taken to post early, keen first furlong tracked leading pair, smooth headway to press leader entering final 2f, led inside final furlong, ran on, comfortable
pulled hard pressed leader until led after 2f, ridden and flashed tail over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon edged left, just held on to 2nd
keen led 2f, tracked leader until ridden 2f out, driven and kept on to press for 2nd near finish
dwelt close up in 4th, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
Mukhmal showed terrific early speed in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot but faded in the closing stages and eventually finished more than three lengths behind Snap Shots. Union Rose ran an excellent race for a 100/1 chance when second to Hootenanny in the Windsor Castle Stakes and he holds Denzille Lane on that run but Richard Hannon has an interesting pair of runners. Dame Liberty won her maiden over track and trip in May and is unexposed but BEACON looked capable of handling a step up in grade when easily winning a novice stakes at Bath last time and gets the nod today.
Beacon 5-4fav (9-7) Steadied start, held up tracking leaders, smooth headway halfway, went 2nd inside final 2f, led over 1f out, pushed clear final furlong, easily, won at Bath 5f 2yo nov stk (4) fm in Jun beating One Moment (8-9) by 3l, 6 ran.
Mukhmal (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Smartly away, led and set strong pace, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 8l behind Baitha Alga (9-1) at Royal Ascot 5f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun.
Snap Shots (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Chased leader 1f, chased leading pair, went 2nd again halfway, ridden and every chance over 1f out, chased winner just over 1f out, well held when lost 2nd inside final furlong, no extra in 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Baitha Alga (9-1) at Royal Ascot 5f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun.
Union Rose 100-1 (9-3) Raced near side and chased winner throughout, outpaced and well held inside final furlong, kept on well to hold 2nd, 2nd of 24, 3 1/2l behind Hootenanny (9-3) at Royal Ascot 5f 2yo lst stk (1) gd in Jun.
Denzille Lane (IRE) 50-1 (9-3) Prominent far side, pushed along halfway, looked on terms 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, not pace of leaders near side, 11th of 24, 9l behind Hootenanny (9-3) at Royal Ascot 5f 2yo lst stk (1) gd in Jun.
Dame Liberty (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Keen early, led, ridden and headed entering final furlong, led again inside final furlong, ran on, won at Sandown 5f mdn (5) gs in May beating Russian Heroine (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
