held up towards rear, headway on outer over 1f out, ridden and stayed on towards finish
took keen hold close up, headway between horses over 1f out, stayed on to 2nd towards finish
tracked leaders, switched to stand side rail entering final 4f, headway to lead entering final furlong, ran on
keen towards rear, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish
raced wide keen in touch, headway to track leaders 3f out, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong
led, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra and lost 2 places towards finish
in touch, ridden and weakened 2f out
pressed leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
dwelt in rear, short lived effort entering final furlong
Aidan O’Brien has won this first classic seven times but his odds-on favourite only beat one home last year. Churchill was beaten on his debut last year but then reeled off five victories on the spin, including the Dewhurst here in October which is usually a good trial for this. Stablemate Lancaster Bomber was second that day and ran well in Dubai on his reappearance while third Blue Point won a Group 3 at Ascot on Wednesday so the form looks solid. Al Wukair made it three from three when landing the odds in a Group 3 at Maisons-Lafitte last month and Andre Fabre’s raider shouldn’t be underestimated. Barney Roy easily beat Dream Castle in the Greenham at Newbury and is now Godolphin’s best hope of a first success since Night On Thunder in 2014 but this can go to EMINENT. Martyn Meade’s Frankel colt powered clear of Racing Post Trophy winner Rivet in the Craven Stakes here last month and that bodes well for his chances in what is always a strongly-run affair.
Al Wukair (IRE) (9-2) won at Maisons-Laffitte 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Apr beating National Defense (9-2) by 1l, 8 ran.
Barney Roy 5-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, sustained challenge to lead inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, eased close home, won at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr beating Dream Castle (9-0) by 2l, 10 ran.
Churchill (IRE) 8-11fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, in 4th, headway towards outside over 2f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led just inside final furlong, stayed on well, driven out, won at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct beating Lancaster Bomber (9-1) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Dream Castle 9-4fav (9-0) Pulled hard, prominent near side, 2nd hafway, led 2f out, clear over 1f out, hung badly left and headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Barney Roy (9-0) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr.
Eminent (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Raced stand side tracked leader, pushed along 2f out, led inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr beating Rivet (9-0) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Lancaster Bomber (USA) 6-1 (8-9) 4th of 16, 2 1/4l behind Thunder Snow (8-9) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 Slow in Mar.
Larchmont Lad (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Raced centre tracked leaders, headway to lead overall over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 5th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Eminent (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr.
Law And Order (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Went right start, pulled hard 2f, close up, headway over 2f out, soon every chance, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Khalidi (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 1f lst stks (1) gf in Apr.
Spirit of Valor (USA) 20-1 (8-9) 8th of 16, 12 1/4l behind Thunder Snow (8-9) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 Slow in Mar.
Top Score 14-1 (8-9) 11th of 16, 17 1/4l behind Thunder Snow (8-9) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 Slow in Mar.
