tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed, weakened well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, raced keenly, challenging when bumped over 1f out, soon hung left and beaten
raced keenly, led, hung right from over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, pushed along over 4f out, left behind final 3f, tailed off
held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, soon hung right and swished tail, quickly beaten
headway to press leader after 1f racing keenly, ridden over 3f out, not much room and squeezed out over 1f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, soon ridden to challenge, ran on to lead last strides
mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon led, ran on inside final furlong, headed last strides
Alexandros looks the horse from a form point of view but Godolphin's horses are slow to start and so preference instead is for Achill Island ahead of North Parade. Aiden O'Brien took this race last year with Admiralofthefleet, a horse who was taking a leap forward on what we had previously seen. His career tailed off after that but the hope is that Achill Island could take this before going on to better things, possibly at Epsom later in the season. His form from last year is solid, and he was found out by unsuitably testing ground on his recent reappearance. Expected to improve plenty on that, he can land this prize. North Parade should step up on what we have seen so far as he gets thrown in the deep end; his stable is in good nick and he may be underestimated here. Sligo looks the Balyldoyle second string and needs to have made rapid improvement, whilst Latin Lad has plenty to find on official ratings racing off level weights today. Ratings say that Alexandros is the best horse in the line-up,, and transferred from Andre Fabre's yard over the winter, this may prove the case, however the yard are yet to have a winner and he may need the run. Unnefer is worthy of respect from a yard that is flying, however Achill Island can return to winning ways.
Achill Island (IRE) (9-2) Held up, every chance 2f out, one pace, 6th of 7, 16l behind High Rock (9-2) at Longchamp 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 hvy in Apr.
Alexandros (9-0) Held up in rear, ran on over 2f out, went 3rd approaching final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Myboycharlie (9-0) at Deauville 6f Grp 1 (1) sft in Aug.
Latin Lad 8-1 (9-0) Took keen hold, in touch until weakened 2f out, 6th of 9, 9l behind Centennial (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Midnight Muse (USA) 7-2fav (9-3) With leader, led 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, just held on, won at Redcar 7f 2yo mdn (5) gs in Jul beating The Oil Magnate (9-3) by a nk, 13 ran.
North Parade 28-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Centennial (9-2) at Newbury 1m 2yo stk (2) gf in Sept.
Sligo (9-2) Led to over 2f out, one pace when headed, 4th of 7, 10l behind High Rock (9-2) at Longchamp 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 hvy in Apr.
Tajaaweed (USA) 10-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 12, 11l behind Ibn Khaldun (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Unnefer (FR) 9-2 (8-13) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 4f out, upsides from over 2f out, led narrowly over 1f out, kept on well, won at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo stk (3) gs in Apr beating Bouguereau (8-13) by a nk, 7 ran.
