tracked leader who set fast pace and keen, led 3f out, ridden over 1f out, strongly pressed and hung right inside final furlong, headed and no extra towards finish
led and set strong pace, steadied halfway, pushed along and headed 3f out, lost 2nd over 2f out, weakened quickly, behind and eased when no chance over 1f out
held up off the pace in 3rd, closer halfway, went 2nd under pressure over 2f out, sustained challenge inside final furlong, stayed on gamely to lead towards finish
wore hood to post, held up off the pace in 5th, headway on rail into 3rd over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on same pace in 3rd inside final furlong
off the pace in 4th, pushes along and outpaced over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up last, went modest 4th out wide over 2f out, no chance with leading trio
NonRunner
Only one three-year-old has won this since 2006 so Ching Shih and Via Sistina look up against it. Regal Reality has proved hard to place over the last couple of years and isn’t getting any younger but Goodwood winner Majestic Dawn shouldn’t be far away again after a narrow defeat in this grade at Deauville. GROCER JACK (NAP) found the progressive Anmaat too strong in Rose Of Lancaster at Haydock but that was another solid effort from William Haggas’ French import and he can confirm that form with Royal Champion and recoup losses in this. Achelois has won a Listed race at York since beaten by Anmaat at the same track so can’t be ignored.
Grocer Jack (GER) 11-8fav (9-7) Chased leaders, headway to dispute lead over 2f out, driven to lead 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Anmaat (9-7) at Haydock 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Majestic Dawn (IRE) 3-1 (8-13) Led, headed 1f out, stayed on strongly, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Wally (9-2) at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Aug.
Regal Reality 5-1 (9-3) Midfield, progress to chase leaders 5f out, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 6 3/4l behind Rebel's Romance (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Royal Champion (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, driven over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 10, 6 1/4l behind Anmaat (9-7) at Haydock 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Achelois (IRE) 16-5 (9-6) Held up tracing leaders in 4th, good headway out wide 3f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, led over 1f out, ridden and stayed on strongly, won at York 1m 2f lst fll stks (1) gf in Jul beating Poptronic (9-2) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Via Sistina (IRE) 11-4fav (8-13) Steadied start and awkwardly away, well off the pace and always in rear, 13th of 18, 19 1/2l behind Vesela (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 2f lst fll stks (1) sft in Nov.
Ching Shih (IRE) 18-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, ridden 2f out, no extra, last of 6, 6 1/4l behind Stay Alert (9-2) at Newbury 1m 2f lst fll stks (1) gs in Jun.
