ASCOT 15:05

All 13 ran.

Time: 2m 6.31s Closing Sectional: (3f): 37.9s (100%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 121%, Betfair SP 102.1%

Although the likes of Golden Horn and Free Eagle, who'd won other Group 1 races at this trip already in 2015, had gone to France for the Arc instead of coming here, a high-class field still came together for this year's Champion Stakes, a trio of previous Group 1 winners amongst them, and it proved to be a competitive, attritional contest; a strong gallop was the main feature, with Godolphin's pacemaker Maverick Wave forcing the issue, and both Fascinating Rock and Found benefited from patient rides whilst evens-favourite Jack Hobbs didn't run up to his best form in third place but did well under the circumstances having chased his front-running stablemate from the outset.

FASCINATING ROCK (IRE) showed his Group 1 potential when just touched off by Al Kazeem in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in the spring and, bar a blip at Windsor, has continued his progress since, no doubting this high-class performance, simply showing what he's capable of under optimum conditions, the ease in the ground perfect for him - he's won all bar 1 of his starts on ground softer than good since 2-y-o debut - whilst the strong gallop suited ideally back at 1¼m as well, particularly the way he was ridden; held up, headway under pressure over 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final 1f, driven out; he'll reportedly stay in training and will have to be respected in all of the top middle-distance races, especially when encountering similar conditions to this.

FOUND (IRE) has had a terriffic season even though she hasn't added another Group 1 win to last year's Marcel Boussac success, runner-up 4 times now at the top level in 2015, including twice against top colts; dropped out, travelled strongly, good progress over 1f out, ran on, suited by the strong pace; the plan is apparently to keep her in training as a 4-y-o and she's very much a filly to look forward to next year, surprising if she's unable to make amends and add another Group 1 in 2016, especially back against fillies.

JACK HOBBS had only been beaten by stablemate Golden Horn previously, that when running belters in the Dante and Derby, and although he failed to justify favouritism and ran below his best figures this was another cracking placed effort under the circumstances, worth extra credit on the day considering how close he raced to the strong gallop, only around a length off the front-running Maverick Wave having got across early from stall 12 of 13; chased leader, travelled well, went on over 2f out, headed inside final 1f, kept on and saw the race out better than might have been expected given how hard he'd already worked; he's still low mileage, this just his seventh start, and given his physique and the way that he's developed throughout this 3-y-o campaign it's not hard to envisage him achieving even more next year.

RACING HISTORY (IRE) was trying to emulate his brother, Farhh, who won this in 2013 and although he didn't manage that it was an excellent run on his first try at Group 1 level, continuing his rapid progress in just 4 outings this term, and he remains with plenty of potential; in touch, ridden over 3f out, responded well; he'll probably stay 1½m looking at this performace.

AIR PILOT had ideal conditions, back on softer ground, and excelled himself in face of a stiff task, running a personal best; in touch, chased leaders out wide 2f out, every chance entering final 1f, one paced; there are more pattern races to be won with him.

THE CORSICAN (IRE) has held his form all season in face of some stiff tasks and deserves extra credit here as one of those that raced closer to the strong pace than ideal; tracked pace, travelled strongly, challenged 2f out, faltered inside final 1f.

TULLIUS (IRE) who'd been off for 9 weeks, has hit the frame in Group 1's in the past but very best days seem to be behind him and he ran about as well as could be expected at this level nowadays, plugging on from off the pace without actually threatening.

RIBBONS shaped as if still in good form, looking likely to finish closer for much of the straight, and perhaps such a strongly-run race at this trip just stretched her, leaving that impression as after making headway 2f out she had no more to give inside the last.

PALACE PRINCE (GER) hit the frame in two Group 1's in Germany earlier in the year but this by some way his stiffest task to date and, whilst not disgraced, he wasn't quite up to it, not settling fully in mid-division and weakening inside the final 1f after making a brief effort early in the straight.

SUMBAL (IRE) was essentially flying too high in this grade and made little impression from off the pace.

MAVERICK WAVE (USA) easy to put a line through this run as far as he's concerned, in there as a pacemaker, and having set the strong gallop (went off too hard) he was soon beaten once headed over 2f out.

LIGHTNING SPEAR was stretched by the 2f longer trip but didn't seem on his game, anyway, struggling over 2f out and eased off, making no impression (raced well off the early pace).

VADAMOS (FR) didn't have the chance the market suggested, third in the betting despite having achieved less than most of the opposition, and proved to be a disappointment; tracked pace, raced freely, folded tamely 2f out.