close up on outer, ridden over 2f out, weakening when hampered over 1f out and soon beaten
prominent behind leaders, ridden over 2f out and outpaced, kept on again final furlong but never dangerous
towards rear, badly outpaced over 3f out, headway and switched right to outer over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong to take 3rd close home
always struggling in rear
pressed leaders, led over 1f out, stayed on until headed well inside final furlong, no extra close home
held up, headway and effort 2f out, soon ridden and weakened quickly final furlong
in touch, under pressure 2f out, soon behind
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden along over 3f out, not clear run over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly to lead well inside final furlong
started slowly, soon chased leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out
with leader, chased along over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
led narrowly, hard pressed 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, lost 3rd close home
started slowly, behind, headway 2f out, every chance 1f out, not quicken and one pace inside final furlong
The opening race of this year's Royal Ascot meeting, one of the most eagerly-awaited fixtures of the whole year, can go to Aidan O'Brien's Russian Blue, with O'Brien's other runner, Oratorio, the suggested option if he does not run, and the main English challengers reckoned to be Tony James, Kings Quay, Turnkey, Berkhamsted and Iceman. Russian Blue has yet to put a foot wrong in winning each of his three races, including in Listed company at The Curragh on Irish 2,000 Guineas day last time out. A very attractive son of Danehill, he looked ready for a step up in trip on that occasion, has already proven himself useful and can add to his trainer's fine record in this contest. O'Brien has won it four times since 1997 with Harbour Master, Fasliyev, Landseer and Statue Of Liberty. If Russian Blue does not run then Oratorio looks an able deputy, having scored decisively on his debut in a Curragh maiden. Much as this represents a step up in class, any juvenile runner at this meeting from Ballydoyle has to be granted huge respect. Turning to the others. Tony James beat three previous winners on his Pontefract debut and is open to any amount of improvement, a similar comment applying to Richard Hannon's Kings Quay, who was immediately pointed in the direction of this meeting following a cosy debut win at Sandown. Hannon will have a line of the form of the Newbury scorer Iceman, as he supplied the second in that contest, while David Loder's Goodricke has progressed nicely but needs to improve again on the bare level of his form to score here. That is, of course, entirely possible. Jamie Osborne has long-since touted the ability of Leicester scorer Berkhamsted, while the Godolphin operation runs the $800,000 purchase Council Member, although the value of his Newcastle maiden win is hardly out of the ordinary. Conversely, there was a lot to like about the way that Turnkey romped home at Kempton last time, even though that win was achieved on heavy going. His trainer, Mick Channon, knows what it takes to land this race, having won it in 2000 with Cd Europe, but the master of West Ilsley cannot match O'Brien's record in this contest, and, as we say, he can score again, with whichever of his pair he elects to run or Jamie Spencer choses to ride.
