ASCOT 16:20

All 12 ran.

Time: 1m 12.09s Closing Sectional: (2f): 24.45s (98.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 126%, Betfair SP 99.7%

An exciting finish to one of the premier sprints of the year, though a race that will be remembered most for the start, which ruined the chance of the best horse in the race, even worse resulting in an injury which may prevent Harry Angel contesting the July Cup; although no blame was apportioned to the starting team and the rider had given the starter an indication that he was ready, it was clear to anyone watching on television that Harry Angel's chance was very likely to be compromised if the start took place when it did; the pace was a strong one and the field raced as a single group, more or less, from a fair way out, the form looking pretty straightforward to interpret, though the connections of all the first 4 could argue that their horse was better than the bare result.

MERCHANT NAVY (AUS) had looked a high-class sprinter when winning at the Curragh on his Irish debut and fully confirmed that with a last-gasp success, doing well after being hampered late on (though the second had blown the start); handy, shaken up 2f out, keeping on when hampered inside final 1f, stayed on to lead final 100 yds, all out to hold on; clearly his task was made easier by the mishap to the favourite, but he may yet progress, likely to be of interest through the summer.

CITY LIGHT (FR) has made great strides this year and ran a fine race in defeat, just denied in the final stride, doing really well to recover from such a poor start; missed the break, raced off the pace, headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final 1f, just failed; the Maurice de Gheest would seem an obvious next step.

BOUND FOR NOWHERE (USA) is a more mature runner than finished fourth in the Commonwealth Cup last year and ran a fine race after 11 weeks off, fully confirming the improvement shown this year, showing excellent speed and likely to have done even better had he not hung so markedly in the closing stages; broke fast, led, rather isolated after 2f, ridden 2f out, hung badly left, headed final 100 yds, one pace close home; he's still relatively lightly raced and would be well up to winning at pattern level if continuing to race in Europe.

THE TIN MAN couldn't repeat his success of 12 months previously, but he ran with plenty of credit, a shade better than the result after getting checked, not well positioned as a result; in touch, shaken up over 2f out, lost place when hampered soon after, still plenty to do 1f out, kept on well.

PROJECTION acquitted himself with credit on his first try at Group 1 company, competitive until well into the closing stages, a pattern sprint within his compass at some point this summer; touch, effort 2f out, every chance 1f out, no extra final 100 yds.

D'BAI (IRE) was entitled to split the fourth and fifth on Windsor running, but wasn't in quite that form, though he ran respectably, essentially not quite up to the task; chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, hung right, weakened final 1f.

SIR DANCEALOT (IRE) wasn't disgraced, this grade a bit beyond him, never in the hunt but making late progress; held up, effort 2f out, not quicken, kept on inside final 1f.

SPIRIT OF VALOR (USA) had a fair bit to find with the winner from last time, but he just wasn't in the same form as last time, paying for trying to keep pace with the leader; pressed leader, every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out.

LIBRISA BREEZE was well held after 12 weeks off, never competitive and yet to find his form this year, the ground not really an excuse, having run creditably under very similar conditions when fourth in the 2017 running of this; held up, labouring over 2f out.

REDKIRK WARRIOR looked an interesting challenger from Australia, reinvented as a sprinter having won twice over middle distances for William Haggas in his younger days, but he was well held after 4 months off, producing a laboured effort; chased leader, ridden over 2f out, lost place soon after.

HARRY ANGEL (IRE) held strong form claims, but very unfortunately didn't get the chance to show his true colours, upset in the stalls and with his leg caught on the frame when the gates opened, obviously easy to put a line through this run; lost all chance at the start, always behind; he's reportedly not certain to defend his title in the July Cup.

INTELLIGENCE CROSS (USA) had a lot to find on his own merit and didn't serve much of a purpose on behalf of his stable companion, in contrast to last year's Commonwealth Cup; chased leaders, lost place 2f out, eased.