held up last, pushed along over 4f out, driven and beaten 3f out, eased final furlong
raced keenly, led, stayed alone on stand rail straight, driven 2f out, no chance with far side from over 1f out
took keen hold, settled 4th, ridden to challenge over 2f out, chased winner 2f out, no impression final furlong
tracked leader, chased winner over 2f out until 2f out, rallied to press for 2nd inside final furlong, no impression toward finish
took keen hold tracking leaders, led over 2f out, driven over 1f out, stayed on well
held up in 5th, driven in centre over 2f out, never going pace to reach leaders
Sir Michael Stoute's Duchess Royale has shown progressive form and made a pleasing debut in a handicap at Newmarket last time and, with more improvement to come, she gets the vote to resume winning ways here with the main threats looking to be Indian's Feather and Baltic Belle. The last mentioned disappointed at Goodwood last time but has solid claims on earlier form so has to be considered. Rhuepunzel is less exposed than most of these but would need to step up on the form shown at Goodwood last time, while Rakata may be a shade high in the weights at present. Voliere ran better last time but more solid claims are held by Nigel Tinkler's Indian's Feather, who is better than her latest start at Ascot suggests. Duchess Royale is open to further improvement though and she looks the one they all have to beat.
Indian's Feather (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) Mid-division, effort 2f out, one pace final furlong, 8th of 21, 9l behind Middlemarch (9-5) at Ascot 7f ldy rds hcp (3) gs in Jul.
Voliere 9-1 (9-9) Tracked leader, led 3f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Guacamole (9-6) at Newmarket 1m fll hcp (4) frm.
Duchess Royale (IRE) 11-2 (8-4) Prominent, every chance over 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Ragheed (8-5) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Baltic Belle (IRE) 16-1 (8-8) Towards rear, hard driven 3f out, some headway, never going pace to reach leaders, 9th of 15, 7l behind Fongs Gazelle (8-9) at Goodwood 1m 1f fll hcp (3) gd.
Rhuepunzel 12-1 (8-7) Pulled hard towards rear, ridden on inside 3f out, soon beaten, 10th of 15, 7l behind Fongs Gazelle (8-9) at Goodwood 1m 1f fll hcp (3) gd.
Imperial Lucky (IRE) 7-1 (9-13) In touch, ridden halfway, soon weakened, 12th of 13, 16l behind Meditation (9-9) at Lingfield 7f fll hcp (6) pol.
Rakata (USA) 25-1 (9-9) In touch, pressed winner and every chance over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on one pace, 4th of 8, 5l behind Fragrancy (9-2) at Windsor 1m fll hcp (4) gf in Jul.
