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
tracked leader, pushed along 3f out, no impression when lost 2nd over 2f out, soon beaten, eased over 1f out
held up in 4th, dropped to 5th halfway, struggling in rear over 3f out, plugged on into moderate 4th over 1f out
led and brought field towards near side in straight, 4 lengths ahead over 2f out, ridden inside final 2f, 2 lengths ahead over 1f out, headed and no extra last strides, kept on for clear 2nd
held up last, pushed along in moderate 4th inside final 3f, took 3rd inside final 2f, plugged on, no chance with leading duo
slowly into stride, soon tracking leading pair, pushed along 4f out, soon outpaced and struggling, weakened 3f out, tailed off and virtually pulled up inside final 2f
CRACKSMAN returned to action as good as ever when landing the Prix Ganay at Longchamp last month. He ended last year with a victory in the Champion Stakes in soft going at Ascot and John Gosden’s high-class colt is hard to oppose in this. Hawkbill finished in front of Idaho when landing the Sheema Classic at Meydan in March and the latter has subsequently won the Ormonde Stakes at Chester. Yucatan and Salouen may struggle in this company but last year’s German Derby winner Windstoss landed another Group 1 contest in September and could make his presence felt on the likely soft ground.
Cracksman (9-2) won at Longchamp 1m 2f Grp 1 stks gd in Apr beating Wren's Day (9-2) by 4l, 7 ran.
Hawkbill (USA) 5-1 (9-0) won at Meydan 1m 4f Grp 1 gd in Mar beating Poet's Word (9-0) by 3l, 10 ran.
Idaho (IRE) 8-11fav (9-0) Sweating, took keen hold early and wide, headway on inside tracking leading pair after 3f, headway on inside to lead over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong, stayed on well,, won at Chester 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May beating Danehill Kodiac (9-3) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Salouen (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Tracked leading pair and keen, ridden over 1f out, soon unable to quicken, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Barsanti (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f lst stks (1) gf in May.
Windstoss (GER) 5-2 (9-4) 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Oriental Eagle (9-0) at Cologne 1m 4f Grp 2 stks gd in May.
Yucatan (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Chased leader, improved to press leader halfway and 5 lengths clear of field, pushed along and reduced advantage 2f out, ridden in close 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Cliffs Of Moher (9-3) at Naas 1m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) Good - Yielding in May.
