Verdict

PERSIAN KING beat Magna Grecia and this week’s Dee Stakes winner Circus Maximus in last year’s Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket and returned to action with a facile prep-race victory over course and distance. Andre Fabre’s colt will likely start the hot favourite on that form though has yet to encounter testing ground. Stablemate Munitions also wears the Godolphin colours and narrowly beat Graignes on his reappearance. He attempts a mile for the first time along with Never No More, who has a Listed success over 7f to his credit and is preferred to the other Ballydoyle runner Van Beethoven and also Joseph O’Brien’s No Needs Never. A Listed winner over 6f, Roger Varian’s San Donato returns to action while the Haggas colt Senza Limiti has yet to race outside of novice company and Duke Of Hazzard was well beaten by Persian King here last month. Anodor has placed at the highest level and the progressive Shaman has won in heavy going but both could have had more luck with today’s draw.

Formwatch

San Donato (IRE) 2-1fav (9-1) Short of room soon after start, held up in touch in rear, switched left and good headway over 1f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, edged right and ran on, won at Doncaster 6f lst stks (1) gs in Oct beating Barbill (9-1) by 3/4l, 9 ran.

Graignes (FR) (9-2) 2nd of 7, shd behind Munitions (9-2) at Maisons-Laffitte 7f Grp 3 stks gs in Apr.

Van Beethoven (CAN) 8-1 (9-0) 9th of 14, 17l behind Plus Que Parfait (9-0) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 fst in Mar.

Simply Striking (FR) (8-13) 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Urwald (8-13) at Longchamp 7f lst stks gd in Apr.

Anodor (FR) (8-13) 3rd of 6, 1l behind Royal Marine (8-13) at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 gs in Oct.

Munitions (USA) (9-2) won at Maisons-Laffitte 7f Grp 3 stks gs in Apr beating Graignes (9-2) by shd, 7 ran.

Persian King (IRE) (9-2) won at Longchamp 1m Grp 3 gd in Apr beating Epic Hero (9-2) by 5l, 5 ran.

Duke Of Hazzard (FR) (9-2) 3rd of 5, 5 1/4l behind Persian King (9-2) at Longchamp 1m Grp 3 gd in Apr.

Senza Limiti (IRE) 6-5fav (9-2) Keen disputed lead 2f, tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon pressed, headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, shd behind Name The Wind (9-2) at Kempton 1m stks (2) pol in Apr.

Shaman (IRE) (9-2) won at Longchamp 1m 1f Grp 3 stks gd in Apr beating Rockemperor (9-2) by nk, 7 ran.

No Needs Never (IRE) 8-1 (8-7) Raced in 6th early and a little keen, soon 4th, headway straight, pushed along under 2f out, challenged and on terms over 50yds out, soon headed and kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Imaging (9-7) at Naas 7f Grp 3 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.

Never No More (IRE) 5-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, pushed along early straight, switched right and ridden over 1f out, headway to lead final 100 yards, kept on well, won at Leopardstown 7f lst stks (1) sft in Apr beating Madhmoon (9-6) by 1/2l, 7 ran.