led after 1f, driven and headed 2f out, chased winner after, well held and no impression when lost 2nd final 75 yards
took keen hold early, soon steadied behind leaders, progress on outside 3f out, chased leading pair 2f out, ridden to dispute well held 2nd over 1f out, faded final furlong
held up, pushed along and outpaced 4f out, switched left to wide outside 2f out, driven and stayed on from over 1f out, went 2nd under pressure final 75 yards, never any chance with winner
soon tracked leaders on out, effort and driven along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, struggling and no chance final 2f
took keen hold, close up on inside, pushed along 4f out, plugged on inside final furlong, no chance
took keen hold, led 1f, tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and drew clear over 1f out and stayed on strongly (hand timed)
Covert Ambition has won both starts so far at Nottingham and Kempton and remains open to plenty of improvement so has to be respected but Godolphin's runners are not in great form at present and a better option looks to be CONFRONT, who gets the vote over Kirklees. The five-year-old looks the pick of Godolphin's three runners in this contest and he has to be respected under Frankie Dettori on his first start in the UK this season having been campaigned at Nad Al Sheeba during the winter. Henry Cecil's Tranquil Tiger held on well when successful in this grade at Goodwood in the Festival Stakes last time and he has to be considered but may struggle to defy the penalty incurred for that success. Mick Channon's Halicarnassus is closely matched with Tranquil Tiger on Goodwood running and has to be considered. Democrate looks best watched on his first start for Godolphin having formerly been trained by Andre Fabre and a safer option looks to be Confront. Sir Michael Stoute's gelding is relatively lightly raced after just six starts and comes here on the back of a decent effort when chasing home Mac Love in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom and, on that effort, he looks the one to be on.
Tranquil Tiger 11-4fav (9-1) Tracked leader, led over 4f out, shaken up in 5 lengths clear over 2f out, weakening towards finish, just lasted, won at Goodwood 1m 2f Listed stks (1) gf in May beating Halicarnassus (8-12) by nk, 9 ran.
Confront 6-4fav (9-4) Slowly into stride, soon recovered to track leader, 2nd straight pushed along 3f out, hard driven over 1f out, disputing lead entering final furlong, not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Mac Love (9-4) at Epsom Downs 1m stks (1) gd in Jun.
Covert Ambition 9-2fav (9-6) Mid-division, good headway from 2f out, shaken up and led just over 1f out, ran on and soon clear, won at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Jun beating Rattan (8-11) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Democrate 16-1 (9-2) 98th of 20, 4l behind Vision D'etat (9-2) at Chantilly(FR) 1m 2f Grp 1 3yo sft in Jun '08.
Guarino (GER) (8-12) 4th of 9, 1 3/4l behind Crossharbour (8-9) at Compiegne(FR) 1m 2f stk in Oct '07.
Halicarnassus (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Tracked leader after 2f until just inside final 3f, soon driven, weakening when hung right over 1f out, 9th of 15, 8l behind Perfect Stride (9-5) at Royal Ascot 1m 2f Listed hcp (1) gf in Jun.
Kirklees (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Mid-division; never able to challenge, 10th of 15, 12l behind Eastern Anthem (9-0) at Nad Al Sheba(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Mar.
