with leader, ridden inside final 2f, led narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on gamely, edged left towards finish, just held on, all out
with leaders, driven to lead narrowly inside final 2f, edged right over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, not clear run towards stands side rail inside final furlong, switched left and stayed on to take 3rd near finish, no impression with front pair
with leaders, lost place 2f out, soon ridden, no impression from over 1f out
towards rear of mid-division, driven over 2f out, never pace to challenge, weakened inside final furlong
behind, outpaced over 2f out, ridden and stayed on into mid-division inside final furlong, never nearer
led narrowly, ridden and headed inside final 2f, no extra and lost place inside final furlong
behind, ridden over 1f out, never a threat
chased leaders, driven over 2f out, never pace to get on terms, weakened final furlong
mid-division, ridden inside final 2f, kept on same pace, never near leaders
slowly into stride, always behind, outpaced over 2f out
raced alone towards far side, well in touch, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on, no extra towards finish
mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never threatened leaders
tracked leaders, driven and headway over 1f out, soon challenged, ridden and every chance final furlong, kept on, edged left towards finish, just failed
NonRunner
The King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot may prove the key to this. In that contest, BLUE POINT collared the free-going Battaash in the closing stages and was going away at the finish. He was only seventh in the July Cup subsequently but 5f may be his trip nowadays and any rain that falls will be in his favour. This is an easier track but Charlie Hills’ star sprinter was only fourth in this last year and is always likely to boil over in the preliminaries so offers little value at the likely odds, despite a convincing victory in the King George at Goodwood when Take Cover, another likely trail-blazer, and a number of these rivals were well beaten. Mabs Cross was third at Ascot and also placed behind Havana Grey and Caspian Prince in the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh. Karl Burke’s three-year-old flopped at Goodwood but shouldn’t be written off just yet.
Alpha Delphini 5-1 (9-1) Led, headed 3f out, led again over 1f out, soon headed, ran on, just held, 2nd of 8, hd behind Mr Lupton (9-1) at York 5f lst stks (1) gf in Jul.
Battaash (IRE) 8-11fav (9-5) Went to race initially tracking leader towards far side, switched back left to centre over 4f out, tracked leader, led travelling well halfway, clear over 1f out, ran on strongly, impressive, won at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug beating Take Cover (9-2) by 4l, 11 ran.
Blue Point (IRE) 5-2fav (9-6) Raced centre, tracked leaders, driven and not quicken 2f out, ridden over 1f out, never pace to challenge, 7th of 13, 4 1/2l behind U S Navy Flag (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Caspian Prince (IRE) 5-2 (9-7) Prominent, soon led, headed over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on, not trouble winner, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Havana Grey (9-3) at Curragh 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Judicial (IRE) 4-1fav (9-3) Tracked leader, effort over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, held on near finish, won at Sandown 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in Jul beating Muthmir (9-3) by nk, 10 ran.
Mr Lupton (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Well off the pace towards rear in centre, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 11, 4 3/4l behind Battaash (9-5) at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Take Cover 20-1 (9-2) Quickly away, race alone towards far side of centre, always prominent, kept on final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Battaash (9-5) at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Washington Dc (IRE) 7-2 (9-7) Chased leader, 5th halfway, ridden and dropped to 6th 1f out, no extra, last of 7, 4l behind Havana Grey (9-3) at Curragh 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Abel Handy (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, soon pushed along, lost place over 2f out, weakened, 6th of 8, 8 1/4l behind Mr Lupton (9-1) at York 5f lst stks (1) gf in Jul.
Battle Of Jericho (USA) 7-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, 6th halfway, ridden and no impression in 5th 1f out, kept on same pace, dropped to 6th closing stages, 6th of 7, 3l behind Havana Grey (9-3) at Curragh 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Declarationofpeace (USA) 33-1 (9-3) Rear, 7th halfway, switched left 2f out, ran on well final furlong to 4th close home, never nearer, 4th of 7, 2l behind Havana Grey (9-3) at Curragh 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Havana Grey 9-1 (9-2) Chased leaders in centre, disputing well held 2nd 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 7 1/2l behind Battaash (9-5) at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Sioux Nation (USA) 6-1 (8-13) Raced on near side rail, held up in last pair, never on terms, 10th of 11, 8 3/4l behind Battaash (9-5) at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Mabs Cross 2-1fav (9-4) Chased leader, 4th halfway, ridden in 3rd over 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Havana Grey (9-3) at Curragh 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Heartache 16-1 (8-10) Chased leaders in centre, pushed along halfway, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 11, 8 1/4l behind Battaash (9-5) at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Muthmir (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Raced on near side rail, chased leaders, switched right off rail and headway over 1f out, ran on in 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Battaash (9-5) at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
