ASCOT 16:20

All 9 ran. Race Distance Adjustment: +7 yds

Time: 1m 40.74s Closing Sectional: (3f): 38.7s (97.6%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 113%, Betfair SP 99.8%

A classic renewal of the St James's Palace, featuring the Guineas winners from Newmarket and the Curragh, as well as the runner-up in the Poulains, a couple of unexposed sorts among the others, though the 2 classic winners were the clear form picks and they had the race between them in the straight, Paddington taking a decisive step forward again and establishing himself as the clear leader of his generation at 1m; the pace was a good one, Chaldean overdoing things a little in front, though not to the extent that it made a significant difference to the outcome.

PADDINGTON goes from strength to strength, making up into a high-class colt with the potential for more to come, seen to good advantage in a well-run race, likely to be at least as effective over further than 1m, though the Sussex Stakes may well be next on the agenda; waited with after breaking well, travelled well, effort over 2f out, led over 1f out, in command soon after, kept on well, kept up to work; he seems sure to progress further and will take plenty of beating wherever he goes.

CHALDEAN couldn't quite repeat his Guineas form, doing a bit more than ideal in front and having little left once the winner went past, though he'd have been pressed to beat that one anyway; led, kicked on entering straight, headed over 1f out, no extra final 100 yds; he's entered in the Irish Champion Stakes, which suggests he will be tried beyond 1m at some point, his sire the obvious hope that he will get further.

CHARYN (IRE) got a stronger gallop to aim at than when fourth at the Curragh and improved further, unable to get any closer to Paddington but doing good work late on to close down the runner-up; held up, ridden straight, headway over 1f out, kept on well inside final 1f, nearest at the finish; there was possibly an element of him picking up the pieces a bit here, but he'd be up to winning a pattern event at a slightly lower level.

ISAAC SHELBY ran about as well as he had in the Greenham and the Poulains, keener than ideal perhaps, but with no obvious excuses on the day; tracked pace, not settle fully, not quicken over 2f out, plugged on final 1f.

INDESTRUCTIBLE (IRE) away from the mud, wasted no time getting back to form, a shade better than the result, having pressed the leader perhaps more than ideal; prominent, travelled well, every chance entering straight, not quicken, no extra final 1f; he'd be worth a try in a good 7f race.

MOSTABSHIR had plenty to find on form at this level, and ran about as well as could have been expected upped in grade, even if his effort petered out in the latter stages; held up, effort over 2f out, effort flattened out, never on terms.

CICERO'S GIFT stepping up considerably in class, failed to make the expected progress, but he didn't have much luck in running, meeting plenty of trouble as he was asked for his effort, and he would be worth another try at pattern level; slowly into stride, held up, effort when not clear run 2f out, short of room over 1f out, no extra; may yet do better.

ROYAL SCOTSMAN (IRE) disappointed for the second start running, producing a tame finishing effort, the impression of his performance somewhat different from the view offered by his rider to the stewards, that the horse was never travelling, either way plenty of questions left to be answered; held up, took keen hold, pushed along 2f out, found little.

GALERON (IRE) had run well in both Guineas and wasn't in quite the same form, getting warm beforehand; in touch, shaken up entering straight, weakened 2f out.