ASCOT 16:20 5a6t5f

All 11 ran.

Time: 4m 30.88s Closing Sectional: (3f): 38s (107.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 124%, Betfair SP 99.5%

A few new pretenders to Stradivarius' Champion Stayer crown but Dee Ex Bee and Cross Counter went the same way as every other rival over the last few seasons in having to settle for a minor role, Stradivarius always well positioned the way the race developed and, after briefly being short of room and having to manoeuvre out from behind horses, typically settling the issue with a turn of speed before seeming to do just enough in front; in of form, he didn't need to match his 2018 performance, the gallop set by Dee Ex Bee nothing special and meaning there probably was some sort of advantage in racing prominently, Cross Counter worth marking up a little for making his effort from off the pace.

STRADIVARIUS (IRE) had a few different rivals to take him on but it was pretty much the same story in every other regard as he repeated his victory of 2018 in trademark fashion, again doing no more than necessary once in front having briefly looked as though he might have difficulty finding a way through early in the straight, the continued feeling that he's more superior to the rest than his margin of victory might suggest; tracked pace, short of room early in straight, got gap under 2f out, quickened to lead approaching final 1f, kept up to work; it's been said before, but he really is a cracking racehorse in every regard and there's no reason why he won't continue to be the one to beat for the rest of the season.

DEE EX BEE predictably had no trouble with the still longer trip, just about best of the rest behind the 'Staying Champion', and whilst on one hand he was seen to advantage in making the running in a steadily-run affair, the way he was coming back at the finish suggests setting a stronger gallop might even have seen him in a still better light, connections likely to have this in mind when they take on Stradivarius again at, say, Goodwood; dictated, pushed along over 3f out, ed entering straight, headed approaching final 1f, rallied.

MASTER OF REALITY (IRE) was understandably at long odds stepping into a Group 1 for the first time, plenty to find on form and not sure to stay, either, but he did in fact benefit from the step up in trip, running comfortably his best race, certainly worth a chance to back up the form for all he was arguably advantaged by racing prominently in a steadily-run affair; pressed leader, not settle fully, challenged entering straight, stayed on.

CROSS COUNTER after 12 weeks off, has developed into a smashing stayer and ran up to his best tackling a marathon trip for the first time, certainly not beaten for stamina and probably value for a bit extra over the result in faring best of those that were held up in a steadily-run race; held up, travelled smoothly, came wide straight, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on, pulled clear of rest; he'll continue to give a good at the top level, but he's going to have find further improvement from somewhere if he's to start beating Stradivarius.

FLAG OF HONOUR (IRE) might not have stayed tackling a marathon trip for the first time but the overall feeling was that he essentially wasn't good enough, anyway, failing to travel with sufficient purpose to believe he'd have been a threat at 2m, either; mid-field, shaken up early in straight, one paced.

CAPRI (IRE) might not have stayed but still isn't looking the horse he was; tracked pace, shaken up entering straight, faded from 2f out.

RAYMOND TUSK (IRE) faced a stiff task and was never really in the race, ridden with lots of patience presumably on of stamina doubts yet seeing things out in a manner which suggests he probably will prove effective at extreme distances if he's ever tried again; dropped out, still plenty to do entering straight, never nearer.

CALLED TO THE BAR (IRE) was stretched by the extra distance, moving comfortably for a long way before finding less than seemed likely off the bridle, lack of stamina a perfectly plausible explanation; patiently ridden, travelled better than most, shaken up over 2f out, no response.

MAGIC CIRCLE (IRE) might have been expected to run better than he did, even if getting in the shake-up was stretching it, just a bit of a question mark over whether he's capable of reproducing his 2018 form at the minute; held up, shaken up early in straight, no response.

THOMAS HOBSON was arguably a bit fresh, but the way in which he dropped out suggests maybe all wasn't well; mid-field, not settle fully, progress approaching straight, shaken up 3f out, folded from 2f out.

CYPRESS CREEK (IRE) was again flying too high in this grade, this telling us nothing about whether he's going to stay extreme distances; dropped out, beaten approaching straight.