held up, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, switched right inside final furlong, kept on one pace
raced centre until merged with stands side group halfway, held up, headway 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
led stands side group and overall leader until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
pulled hard, led centre group until merged with stands side group halfway, prominent, led over 2f out, hung right approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on strongly
in rear, outpaced 2f out
raced centre until merged with stands side group halfway, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
close up, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
keen, tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
raced centre until merged with stands side group halfway, in touch, ridden and headway 3f out, one pace final furlong
in rear, effort 2f out, soon weakened
raced centre until merged with stands side group halfway, close up, ridden and weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong
AIR FORCE BLUE has dominated the ante-post betting for the season's first classic and will be a very short-priced favourite. His credentials look impeccable as Aidan O'Brien has already won this Group 1 seven times and the lack of a recent run is not a concern. He trounced Massaat in the Dewhurst here in October having comfortably beaten Herald The Dawn in the National Stakes at the Curragh earlier. Stormy Antarctic upset Foundation in the Craven Stakes on his return to action but that race has lost some of its credibility as a trial for this in recent years. Racing Post Trophy winner Marcel is surely more of a Derby horse while the tough Buratino never raced beyond 6f last season. Galileo Gold won the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last summer, however, and then ran very well in Grand Criterium at Longchamp and a repeat of either of those efforts could see him reward each-way support.
Air Force Blue (USA) 4-6fav (9-1) Tracked leading trio, headway near side over 2f out, led over 1f out, quickened clear inside final furlong, impressive, won at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct beating Massaat (9-1) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Air Vice Marshal (USA) 11-4fav (9-1) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Birchwood (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Buratino (IRE) 13-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, headway and effort over 1f out, soon ridden, chased winner inside final furlong, gaining towards finish, always held, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Shalaa (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
First Selection (SPA) (8-9) 6th of 0, 8 1/4l behind Pure Diamond (8-5) at Meydan 7f lst stks (1) gf in Mar.
Galileo Gold 7-1 (8-13) 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Ultra (8-13) at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Herald The Dawn (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) 7th of 11, 3l behind Ultra (8-13) at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Kentuckyconnection (USA) 33-1 (9-0) Raced wide close up, ridden and edged right over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 11 1/4l behind Ennaadd (9-0) at Kempton 1m stks (2) pol in Apr.
Marcel (IRE) 33-1 (9-1) Steadied start held up in touch in rear, headway on outer 2f out, led approaching final furlong, edged right ridden and ran on, won at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct beating Johannes Vermeer (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Massaat (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Held up tracking leaders in 5th, headway towards centre over 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, one pace and no impression when edged left inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Air Force Blue (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Ribchester (IRE) (9-2) 5th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Cheikeljack (9-2) at Maisons-Laffitte 7f Grp 3 stks hvy in Apr.
Stormy Antarctic 9-2 (9-0) Held up in touch in rear, smooth headway on outer over 1f out, led just inside final furlong, ran on, impressive, won at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Apr beating Foundation (9-0) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Zhui Feng (IRE) 9-2 (9-6) Raced alone stand side close up, headway over 1f out, soon pressed leaders, not quicken towards finish, 3rd of 5, 1/2l behind Thikriyaat (9-2) at Newmarket 7f stks (3) gs in Apr.
Zonderland 7-4fav (9-0) Rearing in stalls, slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden chasing leaders inside final furlong, weakened well inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Crazy Horse (9-0) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Oct.
