chased leaders, effort over 1f out, soon ridden and no impression
in touch, headway over 1f out, never on terms
raced freely and wide of pack, in touch, headway over 1f out, soon every chance, stayed on same pace final furlong
held up in touch, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, ran on well
chased leaders, headway approaching final furlong, ran on
prominent, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra closing stages
led, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
HITCHENS carried a penalty to success in last year's renewal and is fancied to repeat. David Barron's sprinter arrives in fine form after winning at Chester last time and can confirm earlier running at the Curragh with Irish raider Farmleigh House. A winner at Meydan early this year, Kavanagh looks a threat on his first start since May while Mince could also figure if rediscovering her best form of last season. Taayel made a winning return at Doncaster earlier this month when getting the better of Valbcheck and the three-year-old has plenty of scope for further improvement while the latter is preferred to stablemate Nocturn.
Farmleigh House (IRE) 10-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden into 4th 1 1/2f out, led 1f out, kept on well under pressure final furlong, all out close home, just held on, won at Dundalk 6f hcp pol beating Via Ballycroy (9-1) by shd, 13 ran.
Kavanagh (SAF) (9-0) 5th of 11, 4l behind Lucky Nine (9-0) at Kranji(SNG) 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in May.
Nocturn 11-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 23rd of 26, 17l behind York Glory (9-2) at Royal Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun.
Tropics (USA) 9-2fav (9-6) Towards rear far side of centre group, headway over 1f out, soon hung left, kept on, 6th of 27, 4l behind Rex Imperator (9-4) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gd.
Valbchek (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, headway 2f out, challenged over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon ridden, kept on, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Taayel (8-9) at Doncaster 6f cond Stakes (3) gd.
Master Of War 12-1 (8-12) In rear, ridden 2f out, never on terms, 7th of 10, 6l behind Reckless Abandon (8-12) at Newmarket 6f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Taayel (IRE) 11-4 (8-9) Held up in touch, headway towards stands' side over 1f out, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 6f cond Stakes (3) gd beating Valbchek (8-13) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Hitchens (IRE) 17-2 (9-7) In touch towards rear, good headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, effort on inner entering final furlong, driven and stayed on to lead final strides, won at Chester 6f Listed stks 3yo (1) gd beating Intransigent (9-0) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Bettolle (ITY) 50-1 (8-12) Always behind, 14th of 17, 7l behind Moviesta (8-12) at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 (1) gd.
I'm So Glad 14-1 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 11, 7l behind Gabriel's Lad (9-8) at Newmarket 7f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Mince 5-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, recovered to chase leader after 1f, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, soon pushed left, no impression when lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Tickled Pink (9-4) at Sandown 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in Jul.
Pearl Sea (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Led, ridden 2f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra, 4th of 12, 5l behind Artistic Jewel (9-4) at Pontefract 6f fll lst stks (1) gf.
