held up well of the pace in last pair, plugged on into 4th over 1f out and close don 3rd, no chance with 1st 2
slowly into stride and never travelling in 4th, headway on outside and forced wide on home turn, ridden to lead approaching final 2f, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
always behind and off the pace, no chance when hung right over 2f out
raced keenly in front, headed approaching final 2f, soon lost 2nd, outpaced and no threat after, weakened
tracked leader 2f, 2nd again on inside over 2f out until just inside final 2f, soon not quicken, no chance with 1st 2, kept on for 3rd
held up in 5th, good headway on outside over 2f out, 2nd entering final 2f, led over 1f out, soon ridden clear, stayed on strongly
tracked leading pair, 2nd 8f out until pushed along over 2f out, soon beaten
CRACKSMAN is difficult to oppose despite making hard work of winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom last time. John Gosden’s high-class colt won the Champion Stakes over course and distance on his only previous visit to this venue with Poet's Word well beaten in second. The latter won last month’s Brigadier Gerard at Sandown with Desert Encounter back in third but was runner-up to Hawkbill in the Group 1 Sheema Classic at Meydan before that though the latter was nowhere near his best behind Cracksman in the soft ground at Epsom last time. Second and fourth respectively in last year’s Derby, Cliffs Of Moher and Eminent, have both won Group 2 races subsequently but look up against it in this as does Royal Julius, a Group 2 winner in Italy last month.
Cliffs Of Moher (IRE) 7-4 (9-3) Held up in moderate 4th, headway into closer 3rd and pushed along 2f out, ridden in 2nd and edged right 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace in 2nd final furlong, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Lancaster Bomber (9-3) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in May.
Cracksman 2-7fav (9-0) Held up in 5th, gained and place halfway, 3rd 3f out, 2nd and plenty to do over 2f out, ridden and closed steadily over 1f out, stayed on to lead last strides, won at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) sft in Jun beating Salouen (9-0) by hd, 6 ran.
Desert Encounter (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) In touch in rear, headway to track leaders over 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Poet's Word (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May.
Eminent (IRE) 8-13fav (9-1) Raced freely, led, pushed along and joined 2f out, soon headed and weakened quickly, last of 5, 13 1/2l behind Forest Ranger (9-1) at Chester 1m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in May.
Hawkbill (USA) 6-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, pushed along 3f out, no impression when lost 2nd over 2f out, soon beaten, eased over 1f out, 5th of 6, 25 1/4l behind Cracksman (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) sft in Jun.
Poet's Word (IRE) 4-6fav (9-0) Tracked leader, pushed along to lead over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May beating Laraaib (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Royal Julius (IRE) (9-2) won at Capannelle 1m 1f Grp 2 (1) gd in May beating Time To Choose (9-2) by 4l, 9 ran.
