held up in rear, never threatened
tracked leaders, taken wide in back straight, went 2nd 7f out until pushed along over 3f out, hung right and one pace in 4th final furlong
mid-division, raced wide in back straight, headway tracking leaders, halfway, went 3rd inside final 2f, closed on 2nd but no chance with impressive winner
tracked leaders, taken wide in back straight, went 2nd over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out
led and set decent pace, headed over 2f out, weakened and eased
held up towards rear, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway tracking leaders 3f out, 3rd travelling well over 2f out, went 2nd 2f out, ridden and no impression when hung left over 1f out, no chance with impressive winner
always in rear, never a factor
mid-division, headway tracking leaders 5f out, ridden and weakened final furlong
took keen hold, tracked leader until settled 3rd 7f out, led going easily over 2f out, quickened clear over 1f out, impressive
Highland Reel was Aidan O’Brien’s fourth winner in this Group 1 last year. The five-year-old beat stablemate Idaho in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last month and then reversed Meydan form with Jack Hobbs when winning the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at the Royal meeting here when subsequent Coral-Eclipse winner Ulysses was only third, though he wouldn’t want any more rain. ENABLE has yet to encounter ground with some give but connections are confident that the impressive Epsom and Irish Oaks winner will not be inconvenienced and she has to be the selection getting all the allowances – Frankie has been particularly bullish about her work in recent days. My Dream Boat is tough but unpredictable and has never won over 1m4f while this looks a very big ask for Argentina’s Sixties Song. Desert Encounter is preferred to Benbatl of the others.
Desert Encounter (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Steadied start, took keen hold, held up last, headway on outside over 1f out, went 3rd 100 yards out, never going pace of leading duo, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Ulysses (9-7) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul.
Highland Reel (IRE) 9-4 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, stayed on gamely and found extra well inside final furlong, won at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun beating Decorated Knight (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Idaho (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Tracked leaders in close 5th, smooth headway in 3rd 2f out, 2nd approaching final furlong, led inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun beating Barsanti (9-1) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Jack Hobbs 2-1fav (9-0) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden and not quicken over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 8, 5 1/4l behind Highland Reel (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Maverick Wave (USA) 20-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and strongly pressed over 1f out, headed 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 16, 1 3/4l behind Snoano (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f hcp lst (1) gf in Jun.
My Dream Boat (IRE) (9-2) 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Zarak (9-2) at Saint-Cloud 1m 4f Grp 1 gd in Jul.
Ulysses (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Held up in last trio, smooth headway on outside on bit over 1f out, led entering final furlong, soon joined and idled in front but stayed on gamely, all out, won at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul beating Barney Roy (8-11) by ns, 9 ran.
Sixties Song (ARG) (9-0) 3rd of 12, 3 1/4l behind Ordak Dan (9-8) at San Isidro 1m 4f (1) hvy in May.
Benbatl 9-2 (9-0) Shade keen, tracked leaders, switched left over 2f out, 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on gamely, won at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jun beating Orderofthegarter (9-0) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Enable 2-5fav (9-0) Chased leader, took closer order over 4f out, pushed along to lead from 2 1/2f out, quickly asserted and stayed on well, eased inside final 100yds, easily, won at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 fll (1) gf in Jul beating Rain Goddess (9-0) by 5 1/2l, 10 ran.
