tracked leader, challenged 3f out, soon led, ridden and pressed over 1f out, soon headed and not pace of winner, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong
held up off the pace in last pair, smooth headway on outside travelling well over 2f out, quickened to lead approaching final furlong, soon clear, impressive
tracked leaders on outside, pushed along over 4f out, soon edging left, went 2nd over 2f out, every chance when hung left over 1f out, 2nd and not pace of winner inside final furlong
tracked leaders in 3rd until pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out, eased when beaten over 1f out
led and set good pace, headed 3f out, chased leader until over 2f out, outpaced 2f out, soon ridden and weakened
took keen hold tracking leaders on inside, pushed along 3f out, ridden and not quicken 2f out, kept on same pace after and no chance with leading trio
held up well in rear, headway between horses over 2f out, soon not quicken with principals and beaten well over 1f out
Nonrunner
It's eight years since Authorized became the last winner to go on to Epsom glory but there's plenty of significant entries this time around and some reputations to heal. Chief amongst the latter are the Ballydoyle pair John F Kennedy and Ol' Man River. The former had been the winter ante-post favourite for the classic after his easy victory in a Leopardstown Group 3 in September but that was on fast ground and he couldn't handle heavy going on his return there last month, trailing home a long way behind Success Days. He'll be much better suited by today's conditions but has plenty of questions to answer. Ol' Man River looked a very smart prospect when completing a double in a Group 2 at the Curragh and was fancied for the 2000 Guineas but finished last. He wouldn't be the first Ballydoyle inmate to run poorly there before improving significantly but it's a very long way back from that run to Epsom. Jack Hobbs doesn't have a classic pedigree which is why he started out at Wolverhampton but produced an astonishing run to land a Sandown handicap by a dozen lengths and deserves a crack at this grade. His stablemate Golden Horn landed the Listed Fielden Stakes at Newmarket and his pedigree suggests this could be his optimum trip. Phoenix Reach hadn't looked like siring a classic winner until ELM PARK came along. Andrew Balding's charge, the daughter of an all-weather winner, did everything right after his debut culminating in a very impressive Racing Post Trophy victory. He isn't bred in the purple but that may not prevent him making a successful return before heading for Epsom.
Elm Park 13-8fav (9-1) Made all, quickened clear approaching final furlong, impressive, won at Doncaster 1m 2yo Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct beating Aloft (9-1) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Golden Horn 2-1fav (9-0) Held up in rear, closed on outer over 3f out, headway 2f out, edged left and led 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 1f 3yo lst stk (1) gf in Apr beating Peacock (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Jack Hobbs 10-11fav (8-13) Handy on outside, challenged going well from 3f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, impressive, won at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Apr beating Rotherwick (9-3) by 12l, 9 ran.
John F Kennedy (IRE) 1-4fav (9-6) Settled 2nd, pushed along approaching straight, ridden and dropped to moderate 3rd over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, last of 3, 11l behind Success Days (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) in Apr.
Lord Ben Stack (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along over 2f out, faded entering final furlong, 4th of 5, 11l behind Star Of Seville (8-8) at Newbury 1m 2f con stks (3) gf in Apr.
Nafaqa (IRE) 11-4 (9-0) Keen led early, tracked winner, ridden over 1f out, driven and edged right inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Kool Kompany (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Ol' Man River (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Raced centre always in rear, behind from 2f out, last of 18, 48l behind Gleneagles (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 3yo Grp 1 (1) gf.
Medrano 11-2 (9-0) In rear and pushed along early, held up towards rear, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Hans Holbein (9-0) at Chester 1m 4f 3yo Grp 3 (1) sft.
