ASCOT 16:20

All 7 ran. Race Distance Adjustment: +7 yds

Time: 1m 38.41s Closing Sectional: (3f): 37.4s (98.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 109%, Betfair SP 99.2%

A performance from Field of Gold to take the breath away, scintillating in its execution, right up there in form terms with the very best in the last 30 years in the St James's Palace, on a par or better with such as Rock of Gibraltar, Henrythenavigator and Shamardal, and with his own sire Kingman; like Kingman, Field of Gold gained revenge for a defeat in the Guineas at Newmarket, the other main player in this field of 7 the winner of the Poulains, Henri Matisse, who himself ran to a level usually good enough to go close in the race, the pacemakers, or the 2 of the 3 that managed to get to the front, doing their job in ensuring a well-run race that allowed the principals to show to advantage.

FIELD OF GOLD (IRE) continues to follow in the footsteps of his sire Kingman, defeat in the Guineas having been followed by success in the Irish equivalent, here showing himself a top-class colt with a devastating turn of foot in the race designed to determine the best 3-y-o miler, no question that Field of Gold is that; held up, travelled strongly, quickened impressively to lead and go clear 2f out, edged right over 1f out, ran on; a top-class colt who seems set to continue down the path trodden by his sire and take on his elders in the Sussex Stakes next, there's nothing in the older brigade that can match him on this form and he'll be very hard to beat, potentially an even better performer than his sire.

HENRI MATISSE (IRE) ran a fine race in defeat, showing significant further improvement in a race run to suit, just up against a potentially outstanding miler, surely ready for a step up in trip, though with Camille Pissarro and Delacroix (and others) also in the frame for races such as the Eclipse and International, he may well have to continue to do duty in the top 1m races; dropped out, effort entering straight, bumped 2f out, edged right as he took second 1f out, kept on well, no match for winner.

RULING COURT (USA) had been trained for the Derby, taken out on the day due to the ground, and he both looked and shaped like a horse that had been brought to his peak for an earlier target, a bit light in condition/getting warm and clearly not at his best, though very unlikely to have been able to confirm placings from Newmarket with the winner even if on his A-game; waited with, not settle fully, shaken up 3f out, hung right early in straight, not clear run soon after, got gap over 1f out and took third inside final 1f, never a threat; he's likely to benefit from a break and will presumably go up in trip, not least to avoid the winner again, with the International at York a likely option to get his campaign back on track.

RASHABAR (IRE) a surprise winner of the Coventry on this card last year, couldn't repeat the feat, finishing where he was entitled to on form and needing his sights lowering if he's to regain the winning thread; tracked pace, took keen hold, shaken up straight, not quicken, bumped 2f out, weakened final 1f.

OFFICER (IRE) had seemingly run on his own merits at the Curragh, but took the role of pacemaker this time, possibly due to circumstance, with First Wave missing the break, running about as well as could be expected on those terms; led, shaken up straight, hung right and raced with tongue out, headed 2f out, weakened final 1f; he's a useful colt with a superb pedigree, one that promises more for a step up in trip, still time for him to make a name for himself.

WINDLORD was definitely in as a pacemaker this time, with his rider having 2 looks round to see what was going on behind, not given a hard time once he'd done his job, a useful colt but not up to this level; pressed leader, shaken up straight, every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out; he's not in the Sussex, so something else may need to set the race up for Field of Gold, unless he's supplemented.

FIRST WAVE (FR) was presumably in to help force the pace, but having missed the kick, he never got near the front; slowly into stride, in touch, shaken up early in straight, weakened over 2f out.