held up towards rear, ridden and headway from 3f out, swerved left over 1f out, no impression on winner, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on
pushed along leaving stalls, prominent, led over 3f out, headed over 1f out, no impression on winner, edged right and lost 2nd inside final furlong
mid-division, effort 3f out, outpaced 2f out, weakened from over 1f out
tracked leader, ridden 4f out, one pace and beaten over 1f out
held up in rear, ridden and headway towards stands side over 2f out, went 4th and edged left 1f out, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, pushed along 4f out, outpaced 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, closed towards stands side over 3f out, going well over 2f out, led and quickened over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, easily
ridden to lead, led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
Clever Cookie won this in 2016 but was only fifth last year and is looking a shadow of his former self. Max Dynamite has shown little in two runs over hurdles this year but was third in the Melbourne Cup in November and looks a better bet than stablemate Wicklow Brave. STRADIVARIUS has won both previous starts on good to firm going, including a defeat of Count Octave in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last year. He then won the Goodwood Cup and ended the campaign with a third in the St Leger and the Long Distance Cup at Ascot. John Gosden's four-year-old won on his reappearance last season and is difficult to oppose here. Desert Skyline is held on various form lines and carries a penalty but Call To Mind ran a nice race behind the smart Defoe at Newbury and beat Count Octave at Goodwood last season. Nottingham second On To Victory is stepping up in class and may be found wanting.
Desert Skyline (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Tracked leading pair throughout, pushed along over 2f out, one pace final 2f, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Torcedor (9-2) at Ascot 2m Grp 3 stks (1) sft in May.
Call To Mind 9-4 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 6, 5 3/4l behind Defoe (9-0) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Apr.
Clever Cookie 20-1 (9-2) Soon in rear, outpaced and struggling over 3f out, never a factor, last of 6, 21 1/4l behind Torcedor (9-2) at Ascot 2m Grp 3 stks (1) sft in May.
Count Octave 10-3 (9-1) Led overall, brought field to centre 8f out, headed over 3f out but still led centre group, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same poace, 3rd of 5, 5 1/4l behind Defoe (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in May.
Max Dynamite (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Held up, soon towards rear, reminders 7th, no impression next, pulled up before 3 out, at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Apr.
On To Victory 4-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, every chance over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, soon strongly challenged, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Mount Moriah (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 6f lst stks (1) gs in Apr.
Stradivarius (IRE) 4-1 (8-13) Held up in mid-division, pushed along chasing leaders and switched left over 3f out, ridden and hung right 2f out, stayed on in 3rd towards finish, not quite pace to challenge, 3rd of 13, 1l behind Order Of St George (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) sft in Oct.
Wicklow Brave 12-1 (11-12) Soon led and clear, slight mistake 6th, reduced lead and joined from before straight, soon headed and no impression, kept on run-in and closing on winner at finish, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Supasundae (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in Apr.
