slowly into stride, keen hold and held up in 7th, headway to chase leader 2f out, soon ridden and weakened inside final furlong
tracked leading pair, ridden over 2f out, weakened 2f out
chased leaders in 4th, ridden 2f out, weakening when hampered over 1f out
held up in 8th, switched right and ridden over 2f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong but no chance with winner
led and set steady pace, quickened 3f out, ridden and kept on well until headed and not pace of winner over 1f out, edged right and lost 2nd inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, switched right to outside over 2f out, quickened to lead over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong
slowly into stride, held up last, kept on final furlong, no chance
in touch in 6th, ridden and not quickened 2f out, stayed on again under pressure inside final furlong
took keen hold, held up in 5th on outer, ridden over 2f out, no response, weakened quickly and eased final furlong
Echelon can give Sir Michael Stoute another win in this Group 2 affair, with Soviet Song, Bon Nuit, Shapira and Violet Park seen as the main threats. Cast your mind back 12 months and it was Peeress who took the prize back to Freemason Lodge on the back of finishing runner-up in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom. Now Echelon lines up with very solid claims, having gone one better than Peeress in coming out on top at Epsom last time. She was given a great ride by Kieren Fallon who had to overcome difficulty in running to eventually win with a bit in hand, so lines up in tip-top form, with Mick Kinane taking over in the plate. Soviet Song will obviously have her supporters as she bids to improve on last season's third, and she has always run well at Ascot in the past. In addition, she will strip fitter for her return in the Lockinge in which she was well held in fourth behind Peeress, and does not have to shoulder a Group 1 penalty this year. Kieren Fallon rides Luas Line who does have to carry a penalty, while Bon Nuit was beaten by Echelon at Sandown last year. Shapira looks up against it on her return and needs it softer anyway, and a bigger danger could well be Violet Park who was a cozy winner in Group 3 company at Newmarket last time. Echelon can enhance her paddock value even further for the Cheveley Park Stud by lowering the colours of Soviet Song.
Luas Line (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) Held up in touch, 5th into straight, 4th and challenged over 1f out, kept on, 4th of 7, 1l behind Mustameet (9-4) at Leopardstown 1m lst stk (1) gf.
Bon Nuit (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, carried left inside final furlong, no extra near finish, 4th of 8, 2l behind Violet Park (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 1f fll stk Grp 3 (1) sft in May.
Chantilly Beauty (FR) 12-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, ran on final furlong, never able to challenge, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Echelon (9-3) at Lingfield 7f fll stk Grp 3 (1) gd in May.
Echelon 15-8fav (9-9) In touch, edged left from 3f out, switched right inside final 2f, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, readily, won at Epsom 1m 1f fll stk Grp 3 (1) gd beating Musicanna (9-6) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Royal Alchemist 11-4 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, rallied to challenge 1f out, no extra close home, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Pout (8-12) at Curragh 1m fll stk Grp 2 (1) hvy in May.
Shapira (GER) (8-9) One pace from 2f out, 6th of 10, 5l behind Anna Monda (8-6) at Milan 1m Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Soviet Song (IRE) 7-2fav (8-11) Held up 4th, ridden and effort well over 1f out, no impression 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 9, 7l behind Peeress (8-11) at Newbury 1m Grp 1 (1) sft in May.
Violet Park 15-2 (8-12) Steadied, patiently ridden in rear, smooth headway approaching final furlong, ran on to lead and edged left near finish, cheekily, won at Newmarket 1m 1f fll stk Grp 3 (1) sft in May beating Royal Alchemist (8-12) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Zayn Zen 25-1 (9-6) In touch, 6th straight, headway under pressure over 1f out, driven and stayed on strongly inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Echelon (9-9) at Epsom 1m 1f fll stk Grp 3 (1) gd.
Astronomia (NZ) 4-1 (9-9) Chased leaders on inside, switched out and effort 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 9, 5l behind Indian Steppes (8-7) at Ascot 1m fll hcp (2) gd in May.
