held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, wide, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
behind, dropped rear 7f out, stayed on under pressure final 2f, never dangerous
held up mid-division, headway to chase leader 2f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, easily
held up 3rd, went second 11f out, ridden 6f out, lost place over 2f out, weakened
in rear, headway under pressure over 2f out, no chance from well over 1f out
held up mid-division, went 2nd over 1f out, no chance with first 2
held up 4th, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon no chance with winner
led until headed over 2f out, weakened quickly, tailed off
steadied start, took keen hold in mid-division, some headway over 2f out on inside, soon weakened and tailed off
tracked leader to 11f out, stayed prominent, chased leaders 2f out, hard ridden and weakened well over 1f out
Red Lancer can give small trainer Richard Price a fairytale victory over Duke of Venice, Tamarillo and Two Miles West. Who would have thought at the start of the year that we would be nominating Red Lancer to land a Group 3 contest at Royal Ascot. However, such has been the improvement made by this former selling plater, that he has every right to line up today. He first made everybody sit up and take notice when capturing the Chester Vase on merit and then finished an unlucky third in the Predominate Stakes at Goodwood last month. The one doubt is his ability to act on fast ground, but he should stay the trip and is a sporting selection. Duke Of Venice has question marks over the trip as well, having chased home Hazyview over ten furlongs at Newmarket. He will be nursed round by Frankie Dettori though and is another for the short-list. The likely favourite is Tamarillo whose family is packed with stamina, and she should not phased by proceedings, having won at Nad Al Sheba and finished fifth in the Italian Oaks on her return to Michael Bell's stable. She stayed on well at San Siro and has leading claims. Top Seed bids to boost the Dante form yet again, having finished fourth to North Light but is another that may not stay, while Two Miles West lines up on the back of an all-the-way debut success at Leopardstown nine days ago. By Sadler's Wells out of User Friendly, he has Slip Anchor in his pedigree on the dam's side and so should stay. The negative is that Aidan O'Brien has never saddled a Royal Ascot winner over further than a mile. There is always a first time but be shall be cheering on Red Lancer to strike a blow for his unfashionable yard.
