held up, headway final furlong, stayed on, nearest finish
always prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up, never on terms
in touch, not clear run over 1f out, edged right and soon ridden, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, held on
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up, pulled hard, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
behind, headway final furlong, stayed on well
prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
held up, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, soon lost place
soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakening when bumped soon after
held up mid-division, never dangerous
Withdrawn
A very difficult race to assess here and one where if we take the Royal Ascot form literally then we'd expect Les Arcs to win. But racing was never an exact science and we are going to take a chance on Iffraaj to come good again for Godolphin, with Les Arcs, Takeover Target and Red Clubs very much respected. The selection has bags of speed as evidence by his Royal Ascot at York win in the Wokingham last year, and went well enough considering an unfavourable draw in the Golden Jubilee this time around. That was his first start for his new yard who admittedly are not red hot at the moment, but their last couple have finished in the frame and with top of the ground to suit he can rewrite Ascot form. Les Arcs was a surprise victor that day and will have his work cut out to frank the form with his Group 1 penalty, but can go well again. Takeover Target meets Les Arcs on the same terms as at the Royal meeting and he looks booked for a big run, while neither Ashdown Express nor Amadeus Wolf are out of this at all. Of the others, Red Clubs looks well in on official ratings in a race that three-year-olds have done well in, and he could represent the major danger to our tentative choice here, Iffraaj.
Ashdown Express (IRE) 50-1 (9-4) Held up behind, edged left over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 18, 3l behind Les Arcs (9-4) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Falkirk (NZ) 14-1 (9-2) Held up near side, outpaced 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 28, 3/4l behind Takeover Target (9-7) at Ascot 5f Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun.
Fayr Jag (IRE) 5-2fav (9-2) Chased leader, ridden 2f out, led over 1f out, driven out, won at Newcastle 6f Grp 3 (1) gf beating Beckermet (9-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Gift Horse 7-1 (9-4) Steadied start, switched right, in rear, some headway from 2f out, not trouble leaders, 13th of 18, 10l behind Les Arcs (9-4) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Iffraaj 6-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden and effort over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 7th of 18, 4 1/2l behind Les Arcs (9-4) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Les Arcs (USA) 33-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, driven to lead 1f out, all out, won at Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun beating Balthazaar's Gift (8-11) by a nk, 18 ran.
Moss Vale (IRE) 5-1fav (9-5) Held up near side, chased leaders 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 8th of 28, 1l behind Takeover Target (9-7) at Ascot 5f Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun.
Pivotal Point 5-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on under pressure to lead close home, won at Sandown 5f Grp 3 (1) gf beating Benbaun (9-7) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Quito (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened quickly 2f out, 17th of 18, 18l behind Les Arcs (9-4) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Takeover Target (AUS) 7-2fav (9-4) Disputed lead, led overall over 2f out, no extra when headed 1f out, 3rd of 18, 2 1/2l behind Les Arcs (9-4) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
La Cucaracha 7-1 (8-13) Held up in touch far side, ridden and effort 2f out, soon one pace, 9th of 28, 1 1/2l behind Takeover Target (9-7) at Ascot 5f Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun.
Amadeus Wolf 7-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, edged right over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, 5th of 18, 3l behind Les Arcs (9-4) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Marcus Andronicus (USA) 9-1 (9-0) Took keen hold, held up, headway inside final 2f, disputing 2nd place approaching final furlong, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Araafa (9-0) at Ascot 1m 3yo Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Murfreesboro 7-2 (9-5) Keen, chased leaders, hung left from over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, not quicken, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Lady Livius (9-0) at Newbury 6f 3yo stk (4) gf in Jun.
Red Clubs (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Prominent on outer, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, no extra and weakened towards finish, 6th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Jeremy (9-1) at Ascot 7f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.
Excusez Moi (USA) 13-2 (8-11) Slowly into stride, held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, hung left and every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 8, shd behind Somnus (8-11) at Haydock 6f stk (2) gf.
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.
