led, came centre in straight, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
mid-division, weakened over 2f out
pushed along leaving stalls, always towards rear, tailed off
tracked leaders, weakened over 4f out, soon behind, eased final 2f, tailed off
awkward on way to post, behind, headway on wide outside and switched left over 2f out, ridden and not quicken over 1f out, plugged on
mid-division, lost place and towards rear halfway, never on terms after
tracked leader, pushed along 4f out, ridden and lost 2nd 3f out, weakened over 2f out, behind and eased over 1f out, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, hung right and weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, lost place over 2f out, weakened 2f out
held up in last pair, switched left 3f out, plugged on final furlong into 4th towards finish, never going pace to threaten
dwelt, soon tracking leaders on outside, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, plugged on, lost 4th towards finish
towards rear, driven along and struggling 5f out, never a factor
held up towards rear, headway on outside over 3f out, chased leaders in 3rd and hung right from over 2f out, plugged on
took keen hold early, mid-division until settled towards rear 12f out, good headway over 4f out, went 2nd over 2f out, soon challenging, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on on strongly
NonRunner
NonRunner
BIG ORANGE took no prisoners in the Ascot Gold Cup and refused to buckle when challenged by Order Of St George inside the final furlong. Michael Bell’s front runner also made all in this 12 months ago and was always prominent when successful in 2015. With Dettori likely to set the fractions again, the much-improved six-year-old is hard to oppose as it’s difficult to see any of those behind at Ascot reversing the placings, though Sheikhzayedroad is possibly capable of better and Simple Verse may not have stayed the 2m4f having raced keenly. Dal Harraild is trying 2m for the first time while Northumberland Plate winner Higher Power got nowhere near the selection in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown in May. Stradivarius has untapped potential over 2m, however, having won the Queen’s Vase a shade comfortably and he’s getting a nice weight-for-age allowance from older rivals. Pallasator has finished fourth and second in this in the last two years so could reward each-support though, like Wicklow Brave, is not exactly straightforward.
Big Orange 5-1 (9-2) Led for 2f, tracked leader, led again 12f out, steadied tempo and given breather 5f out, ridden over 1f out, battled on gamely throughout final furlong, refused to be headed, won at Ascot 2m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun beating Order Of St George (9-2) by shd, 14 ran.
Higher Power 11-2 (9-9) Held up in touch, went 2nd on bit over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon hard pressed, found extra inside final furlong, kept on gamely, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) pol in Jul beating Natural Scenery (9-5) by 1/2l, 20 ran.
High Jinx (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Led, headed over 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, last of 5, 10 1/4l behind Rare Rhythm (9-6) at York 1m 6f lst stks (1) gd in Jul.
Oriental Fox (GER) 7-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders and clear of rest, ridden and every chance 2f out, lost 2nd approaching final furlong, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 5 3/4l behind Nearly Caught (9-0) at Sandown 2m lst stks (1) gf in Jul.
Pallasator 7-2jfav (9-2) Went to post early, held up in last pair, pushed along 3f out, came wide into straight and pushed along, one pace and no impression when hung right final 2f, 5th of 7, 6 1/2l behind Sweet Selection (8-13) at Ascot 2m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in May.
Prince Of Arran 66-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, soon chasing leaders and ridden, hung right and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 14, 11 1/4l behind Big Orange (9-2) at Ascot 2m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Qewy (IRE) 3-1 (9-2) Raced wide for 1f, tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4f, led and went for home over 2f out, ridden hung right and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 16, 3 1/4l behind Oriental Fox (9-5) at Ascot 2m 6f stks (2) gf in Jun.
Sheikhzayedroad 10-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear of mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, edged right and plugged on final 2f, no threat, 6th of 14, 9 3/4l behind Big Orange (9-2) at Ascot 2m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Us Army Ranger (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Held up in mid-division on inside, switched left 3f out, headway from 2f out, went 3rd last strides, no chance with leading duol, 3rd of 16, 3l behind Oriental Fox (9-5) at Ascot 2m 6f stks (2) gf in Jun.
Wicklow Brave 11-8fav (9-11) Chased leader in 2nd, pushed along and led 2f out, ridden 1f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, no extra and headed close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Rekindling (8-11) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jul.
She Is No Lady 50-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders 3f out, soon switched left, plugging on when not clear run and switched right over 1f out, 4th and one pace final furlong, 4th of 14, 6 1/2l behind Big Orange (9-2) at Ascot 2m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Sweet Selection (8-10) 6th of 10, 3 3/4l behind Talismanic (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 1m 6f Grp 2 stks gd in Jul.
Desert Skyline (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Held up in touch, stayed near side 8f out, headway chasing leader 3f out, soon ridden, every chance 1f out, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Raheen House (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Stradivarius (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Mid-division on inside, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, switched left and squeezed through gap to challenge inside final furlong, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Ascot 1m 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun beating Count Octave (9-0) by nk, 13 ran.
Dal Harraild 13-2 (9-1) Led, joined 2f out, kept slight advantage until ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 4l behind Idaho (9-1) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Simple Verse (IRE) 15-2 (8-13) Took keen hold towards rear, never involved, last of 14, dist behind Big Orange (9-2) at Ascot 2m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
