mid-division, driven to chase leaders over 3f out, soon ridden, headway under pressure over 2f out, came towards stand side rail and led over 1f out, kept on
tracked leader, left in lead entering straight, ridden inside final 2f, edged right and headed over 1f out, kept on but always held by winner inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on into modest 4th final furlong, no chance with leaders
tracked leaders in 3rd, effort 3f out, ridden inside final 2f, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair final furlong
tracked leaders in 4th, effort over 3f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 2f out, weakened final furlong
led until hung badly right and headed turning into straight, soon weakened and behind, tailed off
mid-division, headway to join leaders over 3f out, ridden 2f out, soon one pace, stayed on to dispute modest 4th inside final furlong
held up in rear, outpaced over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, no chance with leaders
held up behind, outpaced 3f out, ridden 2f out, never able to challenge, weakened and eased final furlong, tailed off
STRADIVARIUS is the best stayer in Europe and will collect a £1million bonus if extending his winning run in this. Some would argue that John Gosden’s four-year-old hasn’t improved much this year but he’s still been good enough to win both the Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup and he also landed the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup here on his reappearance. Though he carries a small penalty, it’s impossible to envisage the likes of Idaho, St Michel, Max Dynamite and Desert Skyline turning recent form on its head. Count Octave was well beaten here in May while Sir Chauvelin takes a huge step up from handicap company. Red Verdon has never won beyond 1m4f but was second in a Grade 3 at Sandown in the spring over 2m so has each-way possibilities.
Stradivarius (IRE) 4-5fav (9-9) Steadied start and held up in touch in mid-division, closed from 4f out, went 2nd 3f out, ridden 2f out, led and edged right 1f out, stayed on well, just pushed out towards finish, won at Goodwood 2m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jul beating Torcedor (9-9) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Count Octave 4-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, went 2nd and slightly impeded entering final furlong, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Pallasator (9-2) at Ascot 2m 6f stks (2) gf in Jun.
Desert Skyline (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, slightly hampered over 2f out, soon ridden, never on terms, 6th of 7, 9 1/2l behind Stradivarius (9-9) at Goodwood 2m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Idaho (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) 2nd early, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, outpaced by front pair, kept on, 3rd of 7, 6 1/2l behind Stradivarius (9-9) at Goodwood 2m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Max Dynamite (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, slow 5th and in rear 3 out, some headway on outer approaching next, kept on one pace, 11th of 20, 14 1/4l behind Sharjah (11-7) at Galway 2m hcp sft in Aug.
Petitioner (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) In touch, pushed along and headway 2f out, kept on final furlong, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Reverend Jacobs (9-8) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Red Verdon (USA) 6-1 (9-1) Tracked leading trio on inside, angled out over 2f out, went 2nd and hung right inside final 2f, ridden and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Mirage Dancer (9-1) at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Sir Chauvelin 12-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway on bit 3f out, tracked leaders going well over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Goodwood 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug beating Melting Dew (9-1) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
St Michel 40-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, switched right 3f out, effort over 2f out, outpaced by front pair, no impression, 5th of 7, 8 3/4l behind Stradivarius (9-9) at Goodwood 2m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jul.
