held up in touch, ridden 3f out, not clear run 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no extra final 100yrds
held up behind, ridden 5f out and soon beaten
led until headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
started slowly, behind, headway to chase leaders 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up, mid-division, ridden and outpaced 3f out, kept on same pace final 2 furlongs
tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on one pace
steadied start in rear, moderate late headway over 1f out, nearest finish but never dangerous
held up mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon beaten
always behind,
held up in touch, not clear run and hampered 2f out, switched left, led 1f out stayed on strongly inside final furlong, driven out
held up towards rear, never dangerous
close up, ridden and hung right 2f out, led over 1f out, headed 1f out, kept on under pressure, but held final 100yrds
Sir Michael Stoute can have yet another Royal winner in the shape of Dalaram who is bred to stay the trip, with Shanty Star and Singleton put up as live each-way chances. Dalaram will bid to give the Stoute stable their third win in this event in six years and should make a bold bid. He is a half-brother to the 2000 winner Dalampour and a full brother to the very useful Daliapour so it was no surprise that he started to thrive when stepped up in trip. He has been lightly raced with this in mind and will be suited by a strong gallop, so can put his rivals to the sword before making up into a cup horse next year. Mark Johnston knows what it takes to land staying events and relies on Shanty Star, third in the Lingfield Derby Trial, and who bids to emulate And Beyond, successful in the Queen's Vase two years ago. The Middleham trainer is every bit as confident as he was before his juvenile pair won on Wednesday so Shanty Star is on the short-list. So too is Singleton, winner of a 12 furlong maiden at Newmarket but just the sort to give Henry Cecil a traditional Ascot success. Irish raider Icklingham looks a staying type, but so too does Aidan O'Brien's Arundel, whose Curragh victory has been franked left, right and centre. There will be support for New South Wales, but the feeling is that the ground will be a bit lively and in any case he is not as certain to stay as some of his rivals. The safest option is to stick with Dalaram.
