held up in touch, improved 4f out, ridden and went third from over 2f out, no impression approaching final furlong
steadied start, held up in rear, keen early, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, soon eased
tracked winner, ridden over 3f out, one pace final 2f
made all, shaken up over 2f out, ran on strongly
always in rear
keen early, held up in touch, improved 5f out, ridden to chase winner 2f out, kept on, not pace to challenge winner
held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, some headway over 1f out, never dangerous
tracked winner until 3f out, ridden and soon weakened
Preference is for TACTIC ahead of Free Agent and Popmurphy. We're content to take on Kite Wood as the juvenile Group 3 winner has, arguably, disappointed on both starts this season. He wasn't beaten all that far in the Dante but raced keenly and lacked a finishing kick in the closing stages. He got warm there, as he had done last year, and that was again the case prior to the Derby where he again raced keenly before weakening tamely a quarter of a mile from home. He has plenty to prove as he's stepped up in trip even allowing for the drop in grade. Inhibition represents the yard responsible for last year's winner and should improve for the longer trip but she has a bit to find on the form book. Above Average was tailed off in the Chester Vase and the King George V Stakes so is another with something to prove following a promising start to the season. Too Much Trouble shaped as though worth a try at this trip when fourth in the Hampton Court Stakes and merits respect having always been held in high regard. Dhushan was favourite for the Queen's Vase but only beat two home so has plenty to find on that form with fourth placed Tactic and fifth home Popmurphy. The favourite raced too keenly and may benefit from this shorter trip but still has questions to answer. Tactic travelled like the winner for much of the home straight only to run out of gas with just over a furlong to run; he has decent claims on that evidence. Popmurphy was just under four lengths behind and was closing steadily all the way to the line so there's a chance that he could get outpaced as he drops back in trip. Free Agent endured an interrupted start to the season but improved significantly on his reappearance to stay on into fourth in the King Edward VII Stakes. That run gives him leading claims in this contest but Tactic may be able to make the improvement that's required to land the spoils.
Above Average (IRE) 40-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, some headway over 2f out, never a factor, 14th of 19, 14l behind Cosmic Sun (7-12) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Dhushan 4-1fav (9-1) Raced very keenly, led after 1f, ridden and headed just inside final 3f, still chasing leaders when badly hampered on rail just over 2f out, not recover and soon eased, 12th of 14, 37l behind Holberg (9-1) at Royal Ascot 2m 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.
Free Agent 14-1 (8-12) Sweating, held up in mid-division, headway on outside over 3f out, driven and unable to quicken 2f out, stayed on same pace after, 4th of 12, 7l behind Father Time (8-12) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f 3yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun.
Kite Wood (IRE) 28-1 (9-0) Tracked clear leading pair, 3rd and pushed along straight, weakened over 2f out, eased when no chance final furlong, 9th of 12, 14l behind Sea The Stars (9-0) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f stks (1) gd in Jun.
Popmurphy 14-1 (9-1) Raced keenly, held up behind mid-division, ridden over 3f out, slightly outpaced, driven over 2f out, headway wide over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 9l behind Holberg (9-1) at Royal Ascot 2m 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.
Tactic 14-1 (9-1) Held up behind mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3f out, ridden to challenge 2f out, led inside final 2f, soon headed, kept on, lost 2 places well inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 5l behind Holberg (9-1) at Royal Ascot 2m 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.
Too Much Trouble 20-1 (9-2) Soon pushed along towards rear, still last and plenty to do 3f out, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 4th of 12, 8l behind Glass Harmonium (9-2) at Royal Ascot 1m 2f 3yo lst stk (1) gf in Jun.
Inhibition (8-11) 4th of 8, 1 3/4l behind Alpine Snow (8-11) at Le Lion D'angers(FR) 1m 3f stk in Jun.
