Godolphin

5 ran 2m07.99  
Owner: Godolphin

A fourth win in 5 years for Godolphin in this listed event, the 3-y-o Kirklees proving too good for some smart older rivals; the time is nothing out of the ordinary and the pace was fair, so there are some doubts about the strength of the form, particularly with a couple returning from a break and another in uncertain form, but it would be unwise to be too downbeat about the winner. KIRKLEES (IRE) followed up his Doncaster win in workmanlike but ultimately clear-cut fashion, ridden to get on top after 2f out and drawing away in the final 1f; this was a very smart effort and he is likely to be of interest stepped up in grade. ORDNANCE ROW ran creditably on the face of it, showing himself effective at this longer trip, but he might not confirm placings with the third and fourth another time, having a possible fitness advantage over them and taking second only late on after being just about the first under pressure. WINDSOR KNOT (IRE), not seen since a good second in the Darley Stakes nearly a year previously, shaped encouragingly, setting the pace and not given an unduly hard time once the winner went on; he is likely to come on for the run; he stays 11.6f and acts on good to firm as well as good to soft going. ILLUSTRIOUS BLUE, off since his course-and-distance win in the spring, seemingly ran creditably, though one paced when the winner went for home; he may well come on for the run. FORMAL DECREE (GER), who looked well and was on his toes, ran no more than respectably judged on his recent efforts, a first run on good to soft since last year's impressive Cambridgeshire win failing to bring about a return to that level of form.