tracked leading pair, 3rd straight, led over 2f out, hard ridden and strongly pressed throughout final furlong, stayed on and held on gamely
tracked leaders in 4th, 4th straight and ridden on rails to dispute close 2nd when gap closed and badly hampered well over 2f out, not recover and eased
held up in 6th, 6th straight, headway into 4th and driven 2f out, stayed on and went 3rd inside final furlong, held when not much room near finish
held up in rear, last and struggling straight, ridden and beaten 2f out, hung left soon after
led early, tracked leader to over 2f out, soon weakened
soon led, came off rails in straight, hung back left and badly hampered rival well over 2f out, headed over 2f out, stayed challenging, hung left and weakened over 1f out
held up in touch, 5th straight, tracked leading pair going well 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, strong challenge and upsides throughout final furlong, just failed
held up in rear, 7th straight, good headway on outside over 1f out, strong run final furlong, edged left towards finish, just failed
Not for the first time in his career Youmzain looked a shade unlucky when second in last year's renewal and rates the one to beat but we'll take a chance with DUNCAN. There is no obvious source of pace in this contest with the majority of runners usually held-up either in midfield or in rear although it would be no surprise to see Ryan Moore and Ask take the bull by the horns as he's more versatile than most and won over fourteen furlongs last time. Youmzain is a class horse but he needs to be ridden to find trouble and then it's a case of sitting and praying that the gaps appear at the right time as he does possess the turn of foot required to extricate himself. They didn't come when he finished fourth behind Eastern Anthem at Nad Al Sheba in March where the winner also came from a long way behind; he has made rapid strides this winter. Buccellati has improved year on year and was given a good tactical ride to win a farcical race at Chester which saw Johnny Murtagh come in for plenty of criticism for his ride aboard Frozen Fire. It will be interesting to see what tactics the Irishman adopts this time if there is a slow pace given the guaranteed stamina of the Irish Derby winner. Oaks heroine Look Here is reported to have been working well ahead of her return and her three year old form puts her right in the picture and there should be improvement to come after just four starts. Expresso Star has made rapid strides already as a four year old and he should hold his own at this level but Jimmy Fortune prefers Duncan who is unbeaten for John Gosden. This is a huge step up in class but he has scored impressively on both starts and his half-brother, Samuel, got better with age. He is a strong traveller who could be ridden more prominently than a number of his rivals which may give him a tactical edge which he will need if Duncan is to lower the colours of Youmzain et al.
Ask 2-1fav (8-13) Held up, smooth headway over 3f out, led well over 2f, pushed clear over 1f, edged left and kept on final furlong, won at York 1m 6f stks (1) gs in May beating Blue Bajan (8-13) by 6l, 8 ran.
Buccellati 15-8 (9-3) Tracked leader, led at snails pace after 1f, quickened pace after 3f out, driven and ran on final furlong, won at Chester 1m 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in May beating Scintillo (9-3) by 3l, 3 ran.
Duncan 11-10fav (8-12) Raced keenly behind leaders, led on bit over 1f out, soon clear, impressive, won at Ascot 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gf in May beating Starfala (8-7) by 4l, 6 ran.
Eastern Anthem (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Slowly away; settled rear; ran on well final 500m; led last stride, won at Nad Al Sheba(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Mar beating Spanish Moon (9-0) by shd, 15 ran.
Expresso Star (USA) 11-4 (9-0) Tracked leaders, awkward on bend well over 7f out, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, held towards finish, 3rd of 9, 3/4l behind Doctor Fremantle (9-0) at Chester 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
Frozen Fire (GER) 8-11fav (9-0) Steaded at start, held up behind, went 2nd 5f out, driven 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 3, 11l behind Buccellati (9-3) at Chester 1m 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
Youmzain (IRE) 7-2fav (9-0) Rear of mid-division; not much room 500m out or 300m out; ran on when clear, 4th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Eastern Anthem (9-0) at Nad Al Sheba(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Look Here 11-4 (8-11) Held up, headway over 3f out, challenged over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 6l behind Conduit (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 1 3yo (1) sft in Sep.
