led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
with leader, ridden and every chance 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up in rear, ridden and not run on from over 1f out
keen, in touch, led over 2f out, ridden clear final furlong
held up, in touch, effort and every chance over 1f out, held when short of room inside final furlong
In the 'Middle Park', Dutch Art is selected ahead of Hellvelyn. The Norfolk Stakes and Group 1 Prix Morny winner Dutch Art has looked one of the very best juvenile colts around this season and he can land this Group 1 contest. The Coventry Stakes winner and Group 1 runner-up last time, Hellvelyn, looks a major threat. Conquest beat Wi Dud in a possibly sub-standard Gimcrack last time, so we feel that they have a bit to find on what we consider to be the principals today, as does Aidan O'Brien's Listed winner Brave Tin Soldier and, even more so, Captain Marvelous. All of which returns us to the selection, Dutch Art.
Brave Tin Soldier (USA) 15-8fav (9-1) Broke well, settled 3rd, ridden to challenge 2f out, led 1f out, soon drew clear, comfortably, won at Curragh 6f 2yo lst stk (1) gd beating Invincible Force (9-1) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Captain Marvelous (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, held up rear, good headway from over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, driven out and held on, won at Newbury 6f 2yo hcp (2) gd beating Oi Vay Joe (8-8) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Conquest (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) Held up and keen, not clear run over 1f out, soon switched left and hard ridden, ran on to lead towards finish, won at York 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gs in Aug beating Wi Dud (8-12) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Dutch Art 4-1 (9-0) Prominent, led over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Deauville 6f Grp 1 (1) hvy in Aug beating Magic America (8-10) by 1l, 7 ran.
Hellvelyn 13-8jt-fav (9-1) Close up, 2nd halfway, led 1 1/2f out, headed under 1f out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Holy Roman Emperor (9-1) at Curragh 6f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gf in Aug.
Wi Dud 11-4fav (9-0) In touch, ridden and headway to lead over 1f out, driven out, won at York 5f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gd beating Bahama Mama (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.