tracked leading pair, steadied off heels and dropped to 4th 7f out, headway on outside edging right 3f out, led entering final 2f, headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
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
took keen hold, held up in last pair, pushed along and struggling over 2f out, never on terms
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
held up disputing 5th, headway chasing leaders on outside 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, strong challenge near finish, just failed
tracking leaders when badly hampered on inside and shuffled back 7f out but remained in touch disputing 5th, headway over 1f out, went 4th post, never able to get back on terms
pulled hard, tracked leader 3f, handy 3rd, not much room and angled out entering final 3f, ridden and every chance inside final 2f, no extra inside final furlong, lost 4th post
tracked leaders on outside, 2nd 7f out, pushed along 3f out, led briefly 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
led and set steady pace, headed 2f out, chased leaders, weakened final furlong
The Derby form worked out well in last week’s Irish Derby and is put further to the test here with Epsom runner-up CLIFFS OF MOHER (NAP) and fourth-placed Eminent taking their chance. The former looked all over the winner a furlong out on the Downs and with further progress likely from the progressive Ballydoyle colt, he can confirm running with Eminent. Barney Roy won the St James’s Palace Stakes in good style at Ascot though the odds-on Churchill failed to run his race and there are doubts concerning stamina. The same comment also applies to Lightning Spear but no such doubts surround Decorated Knight and Ulysses, who filled the places behind a brilliant Highland Reel over today’s trip in the Prince Of Wales’s at Ascot. Both should be in contention today on that form.
Decorated Knight 10-1 (9-0) Tracked leading pair, ridden to challenge over 1f out, disputing close 2nd and every chance entering final furlong, kept on into outright 2nd post, not pace of winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Highland Reel (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Desert Encounter (IRE) 2-1jfav (9-3) Awkwardly away, held up last, steady headway on outside 2f out went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on well, not quite pace to challenge, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Second Step (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f lst stks (1) gf in May.
Lightning Spear 11-2 (9-0) Held up, switched left 3f out, soon ridden, never a factor, 9th of 16, 7 3/4l behind Ribchester (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Ulysses (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Held up in 5th, headway on outside chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance disputing close 2nd entering final furlong, kept on but not pace of winner, dropped to 3rd post, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Highland Reel (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Barney Roy 5-2 (9-0) Jumped awkwardly and saddle slipped, close up, headway and edged left over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun beating Lancaster Bomber (9-0) by 1l, 8 ran.
Cliffs Of Moher (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, 14th straight steady headway on outside chasing leaders 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 18, 3/4l behind Wings Of Eagles (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jun.
Eminent (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Held up in mid-division, 12th straight, headway on outside 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge, 4th of 18, 1 3/4l behind Wings Of Eagles (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jun.
Salouen (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor, 7th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Permian (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Taj Mahal (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden in 6th over 2f out, soon no impression, 6th of 9, 7 1/4l behind Capri (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul.
