tracked leader until over 4f out, weakend over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, not much room over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, kept on strongly inside final furlong
led, headed over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace
in rear, effort over 3f out, never dangerous
REGAL REALITY is the one to beat in this year’s renewal having won the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown before finishing third to the brilliant Enable back at the same track for the Eclipse. Sir Michael Stoute’s charge should have the measure of recent Listed winner Elarqam, who finished third in this last year ahead of Forest Ranger. The latter won the Huxley at Chester when last in action with subsequent Listed winner Addeybb back in fourth though the latter would prefer some cut and Knight To Behold will need to step up on his earlier second to the latter’s stablemate Crystal Ocean if he’s to figure. It’s been sometime since a three-year-old won this but Bangkok returns to a shorter trip after chasing home Japan over 1m4f at Ascot and Andrew Balding’s colt may prove the biggest threat
Forest Ranger (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Slight lead 2f, tracked leader, ridden to lead again inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Chester 1m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) sft in May beating Matterhorn (9-1) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Addeybb (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Raced wide in touch when bumped and hampered after 1f, headway 2f out, led just inside final furlong, ran on, eased close home (hand timed), won at Ascot 1m 2f lst stks (1) sft in Jun beating Magic Wand (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 16 ran.
Elarqam 11-10fav (9-10) Raced keenly tracking leaders on outside, sustained challenge from inside final 2f, 2nd approaching final furlong, stayed on under pressure to lead inside final furlong, soon edged left, held on, won at Sandown 1m 2f lst stks (1) gf in Jul beating Extra Elusive (9-7) by hd, 7 ran.
Knight To Behold (IRE) (9-2) 7th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Zabeel Prince (9-2) at Longchamp 1m 1f Grp 1 in May.
Regal Reality 17-2 (9-7) Played up in prelims reluctant and cantered reverse way down to start, slowly into stride and rousted along in headway on outside over 2f out, went 3rd final furlong, no threat to 1st 2, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Enable (9-4) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul.
Bangkok (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Keen held up in rear, headway on inner to track leaders 3f out, ridden to lead approaching 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Japan (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Jun.
