held up in 4th, pushed along and went 3rd 2 1/2f out, went 2nd 2f out, soon ridden, strongly pressed leader inside final furlong, stayed on well to lead narrowly close home
chased leader in 2nd, ridden 2 1/2f out, dropped to 3rd 2f out, moderate 4th 1f out, no impression
led, pushed along 2f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home
chased leaders in 3rd and took keen hold, pushed along in 4th 2f out, 3rd and edged left to rail briefly 1 1/2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong
held up in last, ridden 2 1/2f out, soon no impression, never a factor
US ARMY RANGER started his career with a victory at the Curragh then followed up in the Chester Vase before a brilliant effort in the Derby when runner-up to Harzand. The wheels fell off after that so it remains to be seen whether he can get back to that sort of form, though he's handed a tentative vote. Stellar Mass completed a double over 1m4f here in August but finished last in his final two races. Ralph Beckett sends Air Pilot from the UK and she showed her liking for soft ground when landing a Group 3 at Chantilly while Success Days won the Ballysax in 2015 and a Curragh Group 3 last August so shouldn't be dismissed. The remaining pair will need to find a bit more but are by no means out of it with all of the runners making their seasonal debuts.
Air Pilot 7-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 20 1/2l behind Scottish (9-5) at York 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Stellar Mass (IRE) Evensfav (9-5) Soon raced in 5th, progress from over 3f out, soon pushed along, no extra 2f out, eased inside final furlong, last of 7, 12l behind Alveena (9-2) at Curragh 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in Oct.
Success Days (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Soon led, joined briefly halfway, pushed along entering straight and headed 1 1/2f out, soon no extra, weakened, 11th of 12, 22 3/4l behind Almanzor (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) Yielding in Sep.
Us Army Ranger (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, on inside, went 2nd 7f out until inside final 3f, chased leaders, ridden and weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Almanzor (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Lustrous Light (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) Soon led, driven entering straight, under pressure and headed under 2f out, soon ridden in 3rd, weakened to 5th over 1f out, eased under 1f out, 5th of 6, 11 1/2l behind Stellar Mass (8-12) at Leopardstown 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Sea Swift (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Towards rear, 12th halfway, ridden and headway to 3rd under 2f out, progress to 2nd 1f out, kept on, dropped to 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 15, 2l behind Toe The Line (9-7) at Naas 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) Soft - Heavy in Oct.
