towards rear, hung right and bumped rival inside final 3f, never dangerous from 2f out and eased final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, no impression on leaders and weakened quickly over 1f out
started slowly, behind, stayed on well from over 1f out, nearest finish
held up in rear group, plenty to do over 2f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish
in touch, ridden over 2f out, no headway and weakened quickly over 1f out
raced keenly in mid-division, hampered over 2f out and lost place, stayed well final furlong but not trouble leaders
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, badly hampered and bumped inside final 3f, soon in rear and eased final furlong
behind, mid-division, ridden and no impression 2f out, weakened over 1f out
with leader towards stands side, led over 2f out, joined 1f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra and lost 3rd well inside final furlong
squeezed out start, in rear group, good headway from over 1f out, ran on well final furlong, not reach leaders
tracked leader towards stands side, ridden to dispute lead 1f out, every chance when headed just inside final furlong and soon outpaced by winner
in rear, headway to chase leaders and effort over 1f out, no extra final furlong
held up, chased leaders over 2f out, soon ridden, effort over 1f out, not quicken and weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, effort 2f out, no progress and weakened over 1f out
led in centre, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, disputed lead 1f out, led just inside final furlong, soon asserted, driven out
mid-division, good headway from over 1f out, ran on to take 3rd well inside final furlong and gaining near finish
Nonrunner
Equiano's King's Stand win on Tuesday boosted the hopes of MARCHAND D'OR (beat him last time out) and Freddie Head's gelding gets the vote ahead of Sakhee's Secret, Myboycharlie and Kingsgate Native. The draw has played a big part so far this week and the evidence points to single figures, however stall 12 should not pose too many problems for Marchand D'Or as they have tended to form one big group in the sprints so far. He is a hold-up performer but won with a little in hand at Chantilly last time and at home on a quick surface, he can land the third Group One win of his career. Kingsgate Native should go well if allowed to take his chance. He may have come on for his run on Tuesday and from a better draw today, he looks capable of better although let's not forget that he got over a stone in weight concession in most of his races last year. Takeover Target finished well over the five furlongs on Tuesday and connections will no doubt be very bullish about his chance today. War Artist seems to be progressing on each of his starts in this country, but he has a bit to find with Assertive on their recent clash when the latter came out on top. Soldier's Tale won this race last year but needs the heavens to open, whilst Fat Boy is progressive and albeit at a lower level, he is a quick horse and cannot be ruled out. Sir Gerry is a course and distance winner, and ran well behind the selection last time; but he is worse off at the weights today. The major danger could be Sakhee's Secret. A bull of a horse, he ran a fair race on his reappearance over an inadequate five furlongs. He wants the ground like a road and if it stays quick then last year's July Cup winner must not be far away. The selection has a bit to find on their Newmarket clash but he was hampered that day and is now 6lb better off at the weights today; he gets the vote.
Aeroplane 8-1 (9-7) Held up, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Appalachian Trail (9-11) at Haydock 7f lst stk (1) gd in May.
Assertive 15-2 (9-7) Held up in touch, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, won at York 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in May beating War Artist (9-12) by a nk, 17 ran.
Astronomer Royal (USA) 8-1 (10-0) Settled behind leaders, 7th halfway, switched and headway to 5th over 1f out, ran on strongly final furlong to lead close home, won at Curragh 6f Grp 3 frm in May beating Abraham Lincoln (9-9) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Balthazaar's Gift (IRE) 10-3fav (9-0) Steadied start, held up in rear, headway under pressure 2f out, driven and ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Windsor 6f lst stk (1) gs beating Lipocco (9-0) by a nk, 11 ran.
Diabolical (USA) 11-4 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon beaten, 7th of 15, 8l behind Benny the Bull (9-0) at Nad Al Sheba 6f Grp 1 (1) std in Mar.
Marchand D'or (FR) (9-9) Missed break, headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly to lead 100m out, won at Chantilly 5f Grp 2 (1) sft beating Equiano (8-9) by a nk, 12 ran.
Sakhee's Secret 11-4fav (9-7) Held up, pushed along halfway, headway approaching 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, 2nd of 10, nk behind Captain Gerrard (8-7) at Newmarket 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
Snaefell (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden into 5th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Tax Free (9-12) at Naas 5f lst stk (1) gf.
Takeover Target (AUS) 6-1 (9-4) Prominent, ridden 2f out, driven over 1f out, ran on under pressure inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Equiano (8-12) at Royal Ascot 5f Grp 1 (1) gf.
Us Ranger (USA) 9-4fav (9-7) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 17, 1 1/2l behind Assertive (9-7) at York 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
War Artist (AUS) 11-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 17, nk behind Assertive (9-7) at York 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
Zidane 7-2 (8-13) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway approaching 1f out, ran on, nearest finish, 5th of 10, 2l behind Captain Gerrard (8-7) at Newmarket 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
Dark Missile 7-4fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, led halfway, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 5l behind Perfect Polly (8-7) at Haydock 6f lst fll stk (1) gd in May.
Seachange (NZ) 25-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, led briefly over 1f out, weakened final 110yds, 6th of 16, 2 1/2l behind Jay Peg (9-0) at Nad Al Sheba 1m 1f Grp 1 (1) fbs in Mar.
Fat Boy (IRE) 10-11fav (9-3) Made all, ridden and hung left over 1f out, driven out, won at Haydock 6f 3yo lst stk (1) gd in May beating Tajdeef (9-0) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Kingsgate Native (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Pulled hard, held up, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Equiano (8-12) at Royal Ascot 5f Grp 1 (1) gf.
Sir Gerry (USA) (9-0) Held up well in rear, headway 2f out, stayed on strongly, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Marchand D'or (9-9) at Chantilly 5f Grp 2 (1) sft.
Soldier's Tale (USA) 9-1 (9-4) Prominent in centre group, ridden over 2f out, stayed on steadily final furlong to lead final strides, won at Royal Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gd beating Takeover Target (9-4) by a hd, 21 ran.
Utmost Respect 9-4fav (9-5) In touch, ridden along when outpaced over 2f out, headway on inner approaching final furlong, kept on, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Look Busy (7-13) at Beverley 5f stk (2) gf in May.
Myboycharlie (IRE) 11-8fav (9-5) Soon led, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, no extra in 4th 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Astronomer Royal (10-0) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 frm in May.
