chased leader until over 3f out, not clear run and switched right over 2f out, squeezed through on inside over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on, no impression on winner
chased leaders on inside, held in by rival over 2f out, not able to quicken over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression
led, headed over 2f out, not much room over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, pushed along to close over 3f out, edged right and held in rival over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, went 3rd well inside final furlong, kept on
last to break, held up towards rear, some headway on inside over 3f out, soon ridden, no impression final 2f
chased leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, fading inside final 100 yards
held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, switched right and headway inside final furlong, stayed on, never nearer
held up towards rear, pushed along 4f out, headway and switched left over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
raced quite keenly, held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, led over 1f out, edged right, clear inside final furlong, pushed out
NonRunner
Last year’s Derby winner ANTHONY VAN DYCK may not have won since but has run well in defeat at the highest level including a second to Ghaiyyath in the Coronation Cup at Newmarket a fortnight ago. The Ballydoyle colt finished in front of last year’s winner Defoe on that occasion and will handle any cut in the ground. The latter will finish much closer today if back to his best while the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes winner Elarqam should also be in the mix though finished behind the selection in last year’s Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. Desert Encounter beat Alounak when landing the Woodbine International last season while Fanny Logan has more to prove at this level though continues to improve. Morando could only manage fourth in this last season and this is the toughest task the returning Hamish has faced so far.
Alounak (FR) 20-1 (9-0) Held up off the pace in 5th, pushed along and struggling in 6th halfway, weakened, 6th of 7, 20 1/4l behind Ghaiyyath (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Anthony Van Dyck (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Held up off the pace in 3rd until halfway, pushed along 4f out, went 2nd over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to challenge, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Ghaiyyath (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Communique (IRE) 11-4fav (9-0) Close up, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Dashing Willoughby (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in Jun.
Defoe (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Tracked clear winner, never on terms, pushed along and lost 2nd over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 15 3/4l behind Ghaiyyath (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Eagles By Day (IRE) 2-1fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 13 1/2l behind Spanish Mission (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Elarqam 11-8fav (9-0) Soon led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, rallied inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 5, shd behind Lord North (9-0) at Haydock 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Jun.
Hamish 4-7fav (9-5) Went to post early, bit keen, held up in 4th place, smooth headway to lead over 2f out, joined and edged left under pressure entering final furlong, narrowly headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, nk behind Trueshan (9-5) at Newbury 1m 5f stks (2) hvy in Oct.
Morando (FR) 2-1fav (9-5) Bit keen, tracked leaders on inside, 2nd travelling well 2f out, pushed into lead over 1f out, driven clear and stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct beating Sextant (9-2) by 6l, 7 ran.
Fanny Logan (IRE) Evensfav (9-3) Broke well but restrained into rear, effort from over 3f out to chase winner over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, never able to get on terms, kept on, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Manuela De Vega (9-0) at Haydock 1m 4f Grp 3 fll stks (1) gs in Jun.
Desert Encounter (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Steadied start, held up well off the pace in last, never a factor, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Ghaiyyath (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Spanish Mission (USA) (8-9) 6th of 9, 7 1/4l behind Secret Advisor (9-0) at Meydan 1m 6f Grp 3 gd in Feb.
