raced alone far side of centre, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
raced centre tracked leader, ridden and every chance but unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on one pace
held up centre, ridden 2f out, never a factor
tracked leaders centre, pushed along over 2f out, kept on one pace
in rear in centre, ridden 2f out, never a factor
in touch in centre, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders
led stand side trio, merged with centre group 2f out, close up, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on one pace, lost 2nd close home
overall leader centre, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
raced stand side tracked leaders, weakened 2f out
merged with centre group 5f out towards rear, ridden 2f out, headway when became unbalanced approaching final furlong, weakened towards finish
close up when merged with centre group 5f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
steadied start, raced stand side, tracked leader, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
close up centre, headway to lead overall over 1f out, soon edged left, ridden and ran on
towards rear centre, headway over 1f out, soon chased leaders, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd close home
Aidan O’Brien will have high hopes of landing the season’s first Classic for a ninth time but it’s not always the apparent first choice that delivers the goods, though it’s difficult to ignore the claims of likely favourite Gustav Klimt, who beat a couple of stablemates on his reappearance in a Leopardstown trial having landed the Superlative Stakes here last year on much faster ground. He’s entered in all the top races but his dam didn’t stay much beyond 7f and an extended mile was the limit of his full brother Mars’ stamina. SAXON WARRIOR also has a wealth of fancy entries and his trainer has been uncommonly bullish about his prospects this season. He fits the profile of Ballydoyle’s previous winners in the race, though his Racing Post Trophy form took a hit when Roaring Lion was beaten out of sight by Masar in the Craven. The latter was bouncing back from a poor run at Meydan but his form may just fall short of that required to win a Group 1. Elarqam won his only two starts last year, both on good to soft ground, and bids to give Mark Johnston a first win in this since 1994. Expert Eye was odds-on for the Dewhurst here in October but finished last and couldn’t cope with James Garfield in the Greenham Stakes last month.
Cardsharp (9-2) 9th of 12, 21 1/4l behind Dice Roll (9-2) at Deauville 7f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Apr.
Elarqam 11-8fav (9-0) Raced away from stands side towards centre, prominent, led over 2f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Sep beating Tip Two Win (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Expert Eye 7-4fav (9-0) Steadied start, pulled hard early, held up in 5th, pushed along and headway tracking leaders over 2f out, shaken up and unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on into 2nd post, never going pace to challenge, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind James Garfield (9-0) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Apr.
Gustav Klimt (IRE) 6-4fav (9-6) Held up in rear, headway on outer early straight and went 2nd over 1f out, ridden and kept on well inside final furlong, led over 50 yards out, stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 7f lst stks (1) hvy in Apr beating Imaging (9-3) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Headway 11-10fav (9-1) Dwelt in touch in rear, plenty to do when headway entering final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead near finish, readily, won at Lingfield 7f lst stks (1) pol in Mar beating Rufus King (9-1) by 1l, 6 ran.
James Garfield (IRE) 3-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, effort on near side of group and ridden into 2nd over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led final 100 yards, stayed on well, won at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Apr beating Expert Eye (9-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Masar (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Made all, quickened pace 3f out, clear approaching final furlong, ran on strongly, impressive, won at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Apr beating White Mocha (9-0) by 9l, 6 ran.
Murillo (USA) 6-4fav (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden in 3rd under 2f out, 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Beckford (9-3) at Curragh 6f Grp 2 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Jul.
Nebo (IRE) 9-2jfav (9-5) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 6th of 10, 8 1/4l behind Anna Nerium (8-11) at Newmarket 7f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Raid (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Held up in last pair, pushed along over 2f out, headway far side of group and stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 7, 1 1/2l behind James Garfield (9-0) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Apr.
Rajasinghe (IRE) 60-1 (8-10) Off step slow,3wd str, 11th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Mendelssohn (8-10) at Del Mar 1m gd in Nov.
Roaring Lion (USA) 8-13fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along to chase winner 2f out, edged right and outpaced final furlong, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 6, 9 1/4l behind Masar (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Apr.
Saxon Warrior (JPN) 13-8fav (9-1) Prominent in chasing group, closed halfway, led over 2f out, ridden and narrowly headed inside final furlong, rallied to lead again towards finish, won at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Oct beating Roaring Lion (9-1) by nk, 12 ran.
Tip Two Win 9-2 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway from 3f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Elarqam (9-0) at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Sep.
