held up towards rear, headway on rails 2f out, switched left over 1f out, ridden to challenge and every chance final furlong, no extra final 100 yards
held up in touch on outside, headway over 1f out, strong challenge to lead well inside final furlong, all out
held up behind, headway wide 2f out, soon ridden, never troubled leaders
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out on outer, not pace to trouble leaders
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, unbalanced over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
led until headed 2f out, still with chance when hampered and checked inside final furlong, not recover
held up mid-division on inside rail, headway to challenge 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, every chance, no extra final 50 yards
started slowly, always behind
very slowly into stride, reluctant to race, always well behind, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
An excellent line-up for the St James's Palace Stakes, the first of the feature races on day one of the Royal meeting, and it gives our selection, Haafhd, the opportunity to confirm himself the best three-year-old miler in the country, with Bachelor Duke, Azamour, Diamond Green and, possibly, Madid rated as his biggest dangers. Following an impressive victory in the Craven Stakes, the Barry Hills-trained son of Alhaarth followed up by beating Snow Ridge and Azamour in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, with Bachelor Duke back in seventh place. Azamour has two-and-three-quarter lengths to find on that form but Bachelor Duke has since landed the Irish 2,000 Guineas, in turn beating Azamour by a length. That still gives the form edge to the selection, but not by much so it sets up a compelling race. Aidan O'Brien has won three of the last four runnings of this race, with Rock Of Gibraltar, Black Minnaloushe and Giant's Causeway, so Antonius Pius has to be respected. The son of Danehill was a very unlucky loser of the French 2,000 Guineas last time, swerving inexplicably close home with the race won. He might be quirky but he is also talented and can go well. His stablemate Newton, who is visored for the first time today, has probably been entered to ensure a good pace in the race. French raider Diamond Green ultimately finished a length-and-a-half ahead of Antonius Pius - with Byron just a neck behind him - in the French Guineas and they could both go well, while John Gosden is not one to call his geese swan, so the fact that he has elected to run Madid, winner of a Newbury maiden and a Sandown Listed race on his two career starts to date, means he too has to be respected. Brunel has done well this season, winning the Free Handicap and the German 2,000 Guineas, and should still be improving but last year's Group 1 Grand Criterium winner, Pearl Of Love, disappointed in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat on his return and possibly has something to prove now. The only other runner, Castleton, has solid form but still has a good bit to find in this company. Although he tends to be lazy at home, he comes alive at the track, something we are banking on him doing on Tuesday and, accordingly, Haafhd gets our vote for the St James's Palace Stakes.
