tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden entering straight, kept on under pressure and every chance well inside final furlong, no impression and lost 2 places close home
settled in mid-division, 7th entering straight, soon ridden and 5th 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, just failed
led, ridden 2f out and headed 150 yards out, no extra
tracked leaders in 4th, ridden early straight and challenged inside final furlong, kept on under pressure to lead on line
settled in 7th, 6th entering straight and switched left 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong to go 5th close home
settled in rear, ridden entering straight and no extra
towards rear, driven along in 8th entering straight, no impression over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leader in 2nd, ridden and dropped to 4th entering straight, no extra from over 1f out
raced mainly 5th, headway to go 2nd 2f out and soon ridden, led 150 yards out and kept on under pressure, headed on line
Vinnie Roe, who won this in 2001 as a three-year-old and then for the following three years, is the only one of the younger generation to score in the past 13 renewals but neither Hartani, who couldn't quite cope with Ursa Major over the C&D last month, nor the very progressive Massiyn can be discounted this year. AIKEN represents John Gosden and won a Group 2 at Chantilly before finding the Hardwicke Stakes too tough. He'd won seven on the trot previously and with more progress likely and the trip probably suiting he's handed the vote. Fame And Glory was beaten a long way when odds-on for this a year ago and again ran poorly in the Gold Cup at Ascot. He's obviously well up to this at his best but there are too many questions to answer at present. Brown Panther is closely matched with the selection on collateral form and it would be no surprise to see a British 1-2.
Aiken 4-1 (9-0) Held up in touch on outside, headway to join leader over 3f out, driven to lead over 2f out, ridden and headed when edged left just inside final 2f, kept on same pace, faded into 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 8l behind Sea Moon (9-0) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jun.
Brown Panther 9-4 (9-4) Dwelt, raced in 4th and off the pace, headway over 4f out, edging left after, went 2nd entering final 2f, held when edged left again over 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Mount Athos (9-4) at Newbury 1m 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
Fame And Glory 4-5fav (9-2) Held up in touch on inside, switched left inside final 3f, headway soon after, driven and no response 2f out, soon beaten and hung right, 7th of 9, 8l behind Colour Vision (9-0) at Royal Ascot 2m 4f Grp 1 (1) gs in Jun.
Royal Diamond (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Chased leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, regained lead inside final furlong, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 19, nk behind Willing Foe (9-2) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Simenon (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, smooth headway over 2f out, soon attempted to switch right, no room, kept on same pace, 5th of 11, 9l behind Times Up (9-1) at York 2m Grp 2 (1) gs in Aug.
Steps To Freedom (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, headway entering final furlong, kept on, 6th of 19, 3 1/2l behind Willing Foe (9-2) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Shu Lewis (IRE) 3-1 (9-7) Mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden on outer in 11th early straight, kept on well inside final furlong to go 3rd on line, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Zalanga (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 4f mdn stks pol in Aug.
Hartani (IRE) 5-6fav (9-0) Soon raced in 3rd, closed up travelling well approaching straight, soon led, pressed from over 2f out, joined 1 1/2f out, headed and kept on without matching winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Ursa Major (8-11) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 3 (1) sft in Aug.
Massiyn (IRE) 6-1 (8-12) Soon prominent, led 3 1/2f out, ridden and headed entering straight, 3rd 1f out, kept on final furlong, regained 2nd close home, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Galileo's Choice (9-9) at Leopardstown 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gs in Aug.
