ASCOT 16:20

All 7 ran. Race Distance Adjustment: +11 yds

Time: 2m 3.51s Closing Sectional: (3f): 37.65s (98.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 114%, Betfair SP 100.2%

A small-field Prince of Wales's Stakes that revolved around Cracksman, 12 lb clear on his 2017 form, but he was nowhere near his peak at Epsom and disappointed here, leaving the door open for a consistent, high-class operator in Poet's Word to take advantage; others were below their best too, which could be used to knock the solidity of the form, but a fast time gives more merit to the winner's performance.

POET'S WORD (IRE) had been knocking on the Group 1 door, runner-up at this level 3 times, and even though he was up against below-par rivals on the day this was still undoubtedly a career-best performance, very smooth with how he went about it, Doyle always looking confident; in touch, travelled well, came wide over 2f out, headway to lead over 1f out, soon forged clear and driven out; he'll be just as effective back up in trip in the King George and has to rate a leading contender for a race that doesn't look set to take as much winning as it seemed likely to at the start of the season, with Enable injured and Cracksman not at the same level.

CRACKSMAN isn't performing to the exceptionally high standard he set last autumn, not even close to it in fact, admittedly back on firmish ground here, for the first time since third in the Derby, but that's not what should be focused on, mindful of how laboured he was at Epsom too, seeming more that he's lost his focus, becoming lazy; this slightly indolent streak was evident even down at the start as Dettori actively tried to liven him up by showing the whip before loading the stalls, and as soon as they jumped he was bustling him up, chasing the leaders but never really travelling at any stage, and, although he responded to hit the front 2f out, Poet's Word was already looming up at that point and soon swept by, Cracksman keeping on to pull clear of the rest but no match on the day; it might seem odd to say about a colt that has won 2 more Group 1s this year, but suddenly he does have a bit to prove, and it wouldn't be at all surprising if headgear was applied in the King George given the recent signals.

HAWKBILL (USA) who again sweated up beforehand, bounced back to some extent from Epsom, performing better than there in first-time blinkers, but it's still a long way removed from his Group-1 winning best; prominent, not settle fully, every chance over 2f out, left behind final 1f, no match for principals; he's entered in the Eclipse and King George but is more likely to be campaigned abroad again.

CLIFFS OF MOHER (IRE) hasn't ever gone on from last year's second in the Derby, better rated on more recent form now, which isn't good enough for Group 1s in Britain, ridden to finish and pick up the pieces here, plugging on but never dangerous, below his best.

EMINENT (IRE) consistently ran to high levels last year but isn't performing to the same standard at the moment and has become keener than ideal; led, typically took strong hold, headed 2f out, no extra.

ROYAL JULIUS (IRE) faced a stiff task, this an altogether higher standard than the Group 2 he won in Italy last month, too much for him; close up, raced freely, lost place over 2f out, weakened.

DESERT ENCOUNTER (IRE) clearly wasn't 100% on the day, eased off after hanging under pressure, always behind.