close up, driven to lead over 1f out, ran on, all out at finish, held on
steady start, held up, headway from 2f out, chased leaders, slightly outpaced over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, not reached leaders
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, every chance over 1f out to well inside final furlong, weakened near finish
held up, not clear run over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong and gaining, just failed
led, steady pace, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, gradually weakened
steadied start, held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, no progress until ran on well inside final furlong and gaining close home
prominent on outer, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, lost 2nd post
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
The short list for this Group 3 sprint consists of Ashdown Express, Baltic King and Tawaassol, with our vote going to Baltic King. This is a cracking good opener and the case for Baltic King rests on him having conditions to suit today and that he comes here in great heart having won the Wokingham Stakes after finishing a very good fifth in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot. Ashdown Express, who won this race in 2002 and ran well in it in 2003 and 2005, comes right into things based on his July Cup second last time, but he rarely gets his head in front these days. Tawwaasol also gets good mention based on his fine run in a Sandown Group 3 race last time, looking for all the world as though six furlongs is his trip. These look to be the major players - in our view, anyway - but that is not to dismiss by any means the profiles of some classy opponents. That said, our selection, once again, is Baltic King.
Fayr Jag (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 15, 5l behind Les Arcs (9-5) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 (1) gf.
Ashdown Express (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Held up, headway final furlong, stayed on, nearest finish, 3rd of 15, 1l behind Les Arcs (9-5) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 (1) gf.
Baltic King 10-1 (9-10) Held up in rear on rails, not clear run briefly over 2f out, headway over 1f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, soon clear, won at Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun beating Firenze (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 28 ran.
Kodiac 8-1 (8-11) With leader, led halfway, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on and hung right inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Somnus (8-11) at Haydock 6f stk (2) gf.
Ajigolo 100-1 (8-11) Disputed lead to over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 12th of 18, 8l behind Les Arcs (9-4) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Balthazaar's Gift (IRE) 50-1 (8-11) Held up rear, plenty to do 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong, 2nd of 18, nk behind Les Arcs (9-4) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Tawaassol (USA) 9-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, hard driven over 2f out, kept on well final furlong, 4th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Pivotal Point (9-3) at Sandown 5f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Eisteddfod 33-1 (9-4) In rear, hampered on rail over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, nearest finish, 8th of 18, 5l behind Les Arcs (9-4) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
The Kiddykid (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, driven to lead narrowly final 100 yards, headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 16, hd behind One More Round (8-11) at Windsor 6f hcp (2) gf.
Vortex 28-1 (8-3) Held up, short-lived effort straight, 6th of 10, 10l behind Siren Lure (8-9) at Hollywood Park 7f Grp 1 (1) std.
Sunny King (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Steadied start, behind, not much room over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Jeremy (9-1) at Ascot 7f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.
