Aqlaam held up in touch, led 2f out, edged badly left, ridden out, readily holding runner-up final furlong

Il Warrd steadied start, took keen hold and prominent, challenging when edged away from hanging winner over 1f out, kept on same pace

Dream Eater held up in rear, headway and hard ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not reach first 2

Stimulation took keen hold, soon prominent, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong

Strike The Deal mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3f out, one pace approaching final furlong

Jupiter Pluvius took keen hold, settled in rear of mid-division, effort and hard ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, never able to challenge

Generous Thought dwelt, soon ridden along and struggling in last place, stayed on under pressure final 3f, never nearer

War Officer held up towards rear going well, some headway 2f out, soon ridden and no impression

Calming Influence mid-division, ridden 3f out, not pace to challenge

Tawaash disputed lead, led halfway until 2f out, beaten when hampered over 1f out

Royal Confidence always towards rear, ridden and no danger final 3f

Red Alert Day mid-division, effort and hung right over 2f out, soon beaten

Bobs Surprise disputed lead until halfway, hard ridden and weakened over 2f out

Georgebernardshaw in rear of mid-division, ridden and weakened halfway, soon behind

Billyford took keen hold in midfield, ridden 3f out, soon weakened

Shallal chased leaders, driven along over 4f out, soon lost place

The 4mm of water put on overnight ensured the ground rode no quicker than good to firm, firm in places for the start of the second day.

A typically competitive renewal of a race that caters for those unable to cut it over 1m at the top level, althoughit was rather disappointing to see only four horses from the Newmarket Classics taking their place in the line-up after the withdrawal of Guineas seventh Pace Boy.

Defying a penalty in this has proved difficult over the years - no Group winner managing to do so since 1992 - and it was significant that so few were attempting to do so this time round.

Despite his relative lack of experience, all the money around for AQLAAM suggested he was expected to step up markedly on his recent win in a Newbury maiden (form worked out extremely well with four of next five home having won subsequently) and he found plenty once hitting the front over a furlong out to win in the style of a very smart horse. Settling nicely, just a few lengths in behind the leaders, he was switched right to come with his challenge and seemed to relish this faster surface, really grabbing the ground on the run to the line.

The William Haggas yard has been in tremendous form of late and the son of top sprinter Oasis Dream had reportedly been pleasing in his work, so the win certainly came as no surprise to connections, with his trainer stating afterwards he is probably the best horse in his care. The way he ran around under pressure inside the final furlong, edging badly left towards the runner-up on two occasions, suggests there is plenty of improvement to come and 1m should prove within his stamina range. There are reportedly no specific plans, although his trainer plans on keeping him to flat tracks as the horse has had kneeproblems. He is an exciting prospect.

Godolphin were strongly represented with favourite Calming Influence and the Dettori-ridden Il Warrd, and it was no surprise to see the latter fare best of the pair.

With Marcus Tregoning when bolting up inthe Easter Stakes at Kempton on his three-year-old debut, he failed to get home having raced freely on his first start for Bin Suroor in the French 2000 Guineas, and this drop down to 7f was always likely to suit. He once again failed to settle, taking agood grip just in behind the leaders, but still looked a big player when coming through over a furlong out. He was always coming off second best to Aqlaam though and having the winner carry him slightly left made no difference to the outcome. The son of Pivotal is up to winning a race at this level, and maybe even better next season, as he looks just the type to get better with age.

Dream Eater excelled himself to finish fifth at 50-1 behind Henrythenavigator at Newmarket (first-time tongue tie)and he too looked likely to be helped by the return to 7f. That may have been a premature assumption though as, having been held up towards the near side early, he lacked the basic speed of the front pair and the line came too soon for second. He shows agood attitude and his rider confirmed after the race that he will benefit from a return to further, but his winning record leaves a bit to be desired and he is not going to be the easiest to place.

Stimulation, four lengths behind Dream Eater at Newmarket and a head behind Calming Influence last time, is a tough and consistent sort and was 4lb better off with the latter. Soon prominent, he started to come under pressure after three out and looked set to drop away with two to run, but dug in and stuck on willingly for fourth. On this showing he needs 1m, albeit he appeared not to stay in the Guineas, and he is likely to continue to give a good account at Listed/Group 3 level.

Jupiter Pluvius, a smart two-year-old who claimed the scalp of French 2000 Guineas runner-up Famous Name in a Group 3 at Leopardstown, had looked Ballydoyle's number one Guineas contender until being overtaken by Henrythenavigator and he ended up missing the race. He ran well to a point on his reappearance in the Irishequivalent, getting quite tired in the final furlong, and this drop back to 7f looked in his favour. The penalty was never going to make life easy though and he never looked likely to win at any stage, lacking a sufficient change of gear to challenge. Hestill seemed to be carrying condition before the race though, so it is probable we have not yet seen the best of him.

Generous Thought has been shaping like a Pattern performer in handicaps and could easily have come into this on a five-timer hadthings gone his way in two starts this season (beaten short head at Newbury without Spencer resorting to whip and then coming from way back to finish second at York last time). He struggled to lay up early, being ridden along in last, but stayed on well inside the final quarter mile and looks in need of 1m now.

War Officer, whose yard was responsible for last year's beaten favourite, US Ranger, has returned in France this year to win two Listed races and this faster going was expected to suit, according to connections. He travelled strongly through the race and few looked to be going better two out, but he was unable to go on with his effort from over a furlong out and faded. He clearly has an engine and perhaps returning to a slower surface willhelp.

The last two renewals have gone the way of horses coming off victory in the Listed King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket, so it was no real surprise to see this year's winner of that contest Calming Influence heading up the market.

He was 4lbworse off with his victim that day Stimulation, but was still expected to confirm the form, even though it was interesting to see that he had seemingly been shunned by Dettori. However, he started to struggle from well over two out and could not muster arun, fading out in the final furlong. This was obviously disappointing and perhaps slower ground will be required in future for the son of King's Best.

Handicap winner Tawaash ran well for a long way and was still third just over a furlong out, but in the end it all proved a bit much, while the only filly in the line-up Royal Confidence could never get into it.

Georgebernardshaw has finally got his act together this season and followed his easy maiden win with a rampant success in a Listed contest at the Curragh in April. Both those wins were in heavy ground though and he seemed to find the livelier conditions against him when a disappointing 10th in the French Guineas. This return to 7f was expected to suit, but he again had questions to answer regarding the ground and was beaten at just past halfway.

*Shane Kelly reported that Red Alert Day hung right.

*Jimmy Fortune reported that Shallal hung right.[MB]

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