led at steady pace, quickened tempo over 3f out, strongly pressed from 2f out, headed and found no extra final 100 yards
raced in 3rd until 6f out, pushed along and regained 3rd 3f out, driven and still pressing leaders over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong
tracked leader, challenging from 2f out, driven to lead final 100 yards, in command and kept on gamely
slowly into stride, mid-division, went 3rd 6f out until 3f out, weakened 2f out
slowly away, restrained and pulled hard in rear, headway over 3f out, driven over 2f out, 4th and beaten when hung badly right final furlong
took keen hold, settled 5th, ridden and weakened over 2f out
Classic Punch is better than he showed in the Geoffrey Freer last week but is hard to back on that evidence and a safer bet looks to be Hawridge Prince, with Tam Lin rated the pick of the remainder. The selection probably found the ground too quick in the Sagaro last time and is better judged on winning form under similar conditions to this evening's last season. A reproduction of those efforts may well suffice for Rod Millman's gelding. Imperial Star is going the right way but John Gosden's colt may struggle under his penalty, while Dragon Dancer was beaten a long way on his reappearance at Goodwood and last year's Derby runner-up remains a maiden, a run that may well continue here. Godolphin's Tam Lin has run to a consistent level of form and has to be respected but Hawridge Prince has his ideal conditions for the first time this season today and he is preferred.
Classic Punch (IRE) 7-4 (9-3) Took keen hold, ridden over 4f out, weakened 3f out and eased, tailed off, last of 5, 36l behind Papal Bull (9-7) at Newbury 1m 5f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Imperial Star (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Held up towards rear, good headway over 2f out, led briefly well over 1f out, no chance with winner final furlong, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Purple Moon (9-1) at Goodwood 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf.
Dragon Dancer 11-2 (9-1) Soon pushed along to chase leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakening when hampered 2f out, 10th of 12, 26l behind Purple Moon (9-1) at Goodwood 1m 4f lst stk (1) gf.
Hawridge Prince 5-2 (9-3) Dwelt, held up behind leaders, driven along on outside over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 6, 13l behind Tungsten Strike (9-0) at Ascot 2m Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
Tam Lin 15-8 (9-1) Held up and keen, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Blue Ksar (9-5) at Pontefract 1m lst stk (1) gs in Jul.
Ciccone 7-2fav (9-9) In touch, headway inside final 3f, weakened final furlong, 4th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Border Edge (9-8) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
