held up behind in touch, wide entering straight, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace under pressure from over 1f out, never troubled leaders
tracked leader, driven and lost place 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, in touch in rear, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to dispute 3rd inside final furlong, never on terms, no extra towards finish
soon prominent on outer, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace under pressure in 3rd inside final furlong, no impression with front pair
led, quickened clear over 3f out to over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, well held inside final 100 yards
tracked leaders, headway into 2nd over 2f out, close up over 1f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, asserted clear inside final 100 yards
tracked leaders, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened and behind 1f out
MUTAKAYYEF won this last year and should have few problems completing a double. He's competed exclusively at Group 1 level in his four subsequent starts and been placed in three with a cracking run behind Ribchester in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal fixture a highlight. None of these rivals can be considered Group 1 class including the in-form Sovereign Debt, who is 3lb worse off with Gabrial for beating him narrowly in the bet365 Mile at Sandown though he looked to have a bit in hand. Hathal won a Group 3 on his return after a year's absence at Haydock in September and though having no answer to Minding in the QE II here in October is probably capable of better. The remainder all look to have plenty to find.
Sovereign Debt (IRE) 4-1 (9-10) Tracked leading trio on outside, challenged in 3rd 2f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, led over 1f out, ran on gamely, edged right and held on near finish, won at Epsom 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Jun beating Gabrial (9-5) by nk, 7 ran.
Firmament 7-4fav (9-9) Towards rear, 6th halfway, pushed along 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 7, 7 1/2l behind Flight Risk (9-9) at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Jun.
Gabrial (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Held up off the pace in 5th, headway over 2f out, chased leaders soon after, kept on inside final furlong, not quite pace to threaten, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Arabian Hope (8-6) at York 1m lst stks (1) gf in Jun.
Hathal (USA) 25-1 (9-4) Raced towards near side, held up, in mid-division overall, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden edging right over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 13, 10l behind Minding (8-12) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Kaspersky (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 16, 5 3/4l behind Ribchester (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Mutakayyef 5-1 (9-0) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner entering final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 16, 1 1/4l behind Ribchester (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Zalamea (IRE) (9-1) 5th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Taareef (9-5) at Chantilly 1m Grp 3 stks gd in Jun.
