in touch, pushed along over 3f out, outpaced over 1f out
tracked leader, ridden to lead entering final 2f, headed inside final furlong, rallied close home
tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish
in rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
taken to post early, dwelt held up, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
always in rear
led, ridden and headed entering final 2f, weakened final furlong
close up, headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on gamely
mounted on track and taken to post early, dwelt keen in touch, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on one pace final furlong
Having gained that first elusive Group 1 victory in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot, CRYSTAL OCEAN (NAP) arguably bettered that effort when pushing Enable all the way in the King George. Cheval Grand was more than 12 lengths behind and faces a forlorn task trying to reverse that form given Sir Michael Stoute’s entire is almost as effective over this shorter trip, especially on a galloping track. Circus Maximus and King Of Comedy finished 1-2 in the St James Palace Stakes, ahead of the now-retired Too Darn Hot. The former won the Dee Stakes over this trip at Chester in May but the runner-up is having a first try beyond a mile, though should be suited. Japan has also proved himself to be a high-class three-year-old while Lord Glitters won the Queen Anne in June but was behind Circus Maximus in the Sussex Stakes. Elarqam won a Group 2 here last time and is very tough. He holds the filly Regal Reality on the form book but this would require a further step forward. Thundering Blue is no slouch but he’s not been running well enough this year to merit consideration.
Cheval Grand (JPN) 33-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, plugged on final 2f, never involved, 6th of 11, 12 3/4l behind Enable (9-4) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Jul.
Crystal Ocean 7-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders in 5th, smooth headway on outside over 3f out, led over 2f out, narrowly headed over 1f out, stayed pressing winner and battled on until no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Enable (9-4) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Jul.
Elarqam 7-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, kept on strongly inside final furlong, won at York 1m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) sft in Jul beating Addeybb (9-6) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
Lord Glitters (FR) 6-1 (9-8) Restrained start, held up in rear, plugged on towards finish, never any chance, 5th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Too Darn Hot (9-0) at Goodwood 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Regal Reality 11-4 (9-6) Held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Elarqam (9-6) at York 1m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) sft in Jul.
Thundering Blue (USA) (9-3) last of 7, 5 1/4l behind Coronet (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 1m 4f Grp 1 gs in Jun.
Circus Maximus (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Tracked leader, led over 2f out and sent for home, ridden over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Too Darn Hot (9-0) at Goodwood 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Japan (9-2) won at ParisLongchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 stks gs in Jul beating Slalom (9-2) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
King Of Comedy (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 11, nk behind Circus Maximus (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jun.
