made most, ridden over 1f out, ran on
keen tracked winner ridden over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
in touch, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
held up in rear off the pace, ridden and headway on outer over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd close home, nearest finish
keen led early, tracked winner, ridden over 1f out, driven and edged right inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
held up, headway entering final 2f, ridden and no impression final furlong, lost 3rd close home
keen in touch, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
The Hannon team bid for their fourth straight success in this and run two. Dual Group 2 winner Kool Kompany steps up in trip on his return but stablemate MOHEET looks the more likely of the pair. Currently 20/1 for the 2000 Guineas, he dotted-up by seven lengths on his racecourse debut at Salisbury and we will have a better idea of just how good he is after this. Aces and Nafaqa were placed in the Champagne Stakes and Royal Lodge respectively on their final starts of 2014 and the latter beat White Lake earlier. Hail The Hero looks up against it but the O'Brien colt War Envoy has more obvious claims though is closely matched with Aces on running at Doncaster in September.
Kool Kompany (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Tracked leader until ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 6, 3l behind Charming Thought (9-0) at Newmarket 6f 2yo Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct.
Aces (IRE) 18-1 (9-0) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Estidhkaar (9-3) at Doncaster 7f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Hail The Hero (IRE) 11-4fav (9-5) Held up in touch, headway to lead over 1f out, driven out final furlong, stayed on well, won at Doncaster 7f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Mar beating Mockingbird Hill (9-5) by 3l, 13 ran.
Moheet (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Dwelt towards rear, smooth headway 3f out, led approaching final furlong, pushed clear, comfortable, won at Salisbury 1m 2yo mdn (4) gd in Oct beating Gild Master (9-5) by 7l, 11 ran.
Nafaqa (IRE) 5-4fav (9-0) Keen tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Elm Park (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
War Envoy (USA) 11-8fav (9-3) Held up in 5th, progress on outer 2f out, soon ridden, went 3rd 1 1/2f out, closer in 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Convergence (9-3) at Dundalk 7f 3yo Listed stks (1) pol.
White Lake 8-11fav (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders halfway, soon hard driven and hung left, kept on well towards finish, 4th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Nafaqa (9-0) at Doncaster 7f 2yo lst stk (1) gd in Sep.