tracked leading trio, travelling well when angled out 3f out, went 2nd going well over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon edged left to rail, ridden inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, pulled up feelingly
dwelt and slight stumble start, soon tracking leading pair, went 2nd after 1f until 8f out, handy 3rd until ridden inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out
held up in toch in 5th, headway and angled out over 2f out, ridden and went 3rd inside final 2f, stayed on into 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace and no impression inside final furlong
tracked leader 1f, went 2nd again 8f out, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and lost 2nd over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
ponied to start, led, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon unbalanced and slightly hampered approaching final furlong, lost 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace in 3rd
held up in rear, outpaced and left behind 5f out, no chance after
took keen hold, held up in last pair, headway on outside over 3f out, never reached leaders and beaten well over 1f out, modest 5th over 1f out
It's tempting to consider Cirrus Des Aigles right back to his best but the form of his recent Group 1 victories can be cribbed. He beat a below-par Treve in testing ground in April and only had lesser opponents to beat once Olympic Glory's challenge petered out at Longchamp last time. So it could pay to take him on with another Group 1 winner from France in FLINTSHIRE. He ran flat in the Arc when last seen at the track but Andre Fabre could have found a much easier opportunity for his comeback and a big run is expected from last year's Grand Prix de Paris winner. Joshua Tree was well beaten in this last season and the German raider Empoli has come up short at this level in the past. Last year's Oaks heroine Talent has yet to equal that form in three subsequent starts though she's still preferred to the quirky Ambivalent and Battalion.
Cirrus Des Aigles (FR) 4-7fav (9-2) won at Longchamp(FR) 1m 1f Grp 1 (1) sft in May beating Anodin (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Empoli (GER) 25-1 (8-13) 4th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Gentildonna (8-9) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Flintshire 12-1 (8-11) 8th of 17, 12l behind Treve (8-8) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct.
Joshua Tree (IRE) 50-1 (9-2) 5th of 8, 7l behind Cirrus Des Aigles (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f Grp 1 sft in Apr.
My Ambivalent (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Ponied to start, led after 1f, ridden and headed briefly over 1f out, ran on gamely, won at York 1m 2f fll Grp 2 stks (1) gs in May beating Secret Gesture (9-0) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Beacon Lady 14-1 (8-9) Taken to post early, dwelt in rear, headway in centre over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on, soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Apr beating Da Do Run Run (8-9) by 7l, 10 ran.
Talent 7-2fav (8-10) Took keen hold early and held up in rear, headway on outside 4f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to press for 2nd in closing stages but no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Seal Of Approval (9-3) at Ascot 1m 4f Group 1 fll stks (3yo+) (1) sft in Oct.
Battalion (IRE) 15-8fav (9-0) Soon led, driven 3f out, headed over 1f out, weakened and eased inside final furlong, last of 7, 16l behind Mount Athos (9-0) at Newbury 1m 5f Listed stks (1) gf in May.
