behind, in touch, ridden over 2f out, beaten when slightly hampered over 1f out, weakened final furlong
raced freely in 4th, headway and switched right over 2f out, chased winner 1f out, always held inside final furlong
started very slowly, in rear and ridden along, headway and switched right over 1f out, kept on final furlong, not reach leaders
in touch behind, ridden 2f out, beaten when slightly hampered over 1f out, soon one paced
tracked winner, every chance 2f out, soon ridden and weakened final furlong
tracked winner, hung right after 2f, ridden and one pace from over 1f out
switched left to stands rail, soon led, made all, pressed 2f out and over 1f out, ran on strongly final furlong, driven out
close up 4th, effort wide 2f out, soon ridden and one paced
This is a very small turnout for the Norfolk Stakes, and it could rest between the two main powers in juvenile contests this season, with Aidan O'Brien's Old Deuteronomy just preferred to David Loder's Kheleyf. The son of Storm Cat produced a devastating turn of foot to make a winning debut at Newmarket last month, beating Divine Gift by five effortless lengths, with better fancied stablemate The Mighty Tiger a further neck back in third place. Old Deuteronomy runs here in preference to Tuesday's Coventry Stakes, so the drop back in distance is unlikely to hinder him. Kheleyf has also won his only race in impressive style, the Green Desert colt quickening three and a half lengths clear at York, and while it is very difficult to split the pair, Old Deuteronomy just gave the impression that he could be a truly exceptional colt and he just gets the nod. Of the remainder, Richard Hannon, who won this race last year with Baron's Pit, saddles two runners in Prince Of Denmark and Soonest. The former notched a hat trick before he was a beaten favourite in Sandown's National Stakes. That race was run in good style by Mark Johnston's Russian Valour, who appears most likely to trouble the two big guns. The Fasilyev colt has raced rather awkwardly at times but is a progressive sort and has to be respected. The others face a stiff task, although Nevisian Lad beat Soonest narrowly on his debut at Newmarket's Craven Meeting, but Michael Bell's colt has not raced since then and gave the impression he was already in need of an extra furlong, so this trip may be on the sharp side and he does not look to have the speed to trouble our selection, Old Deuteronomy.
