EPSOM DOWNS 15:30

Non Runners: RULING COURT (USA).

Time: 2m 38.5s Closing Sectional: (3.44f): 41.25s (109.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 124%, Betfair SP 100.5%

Despite the withdrawal of the Guineas winner Ruling Court, unsuitable ground the given reason, there was still a surprisingly large field for the blue riband of the turf, one which might have been even larger - Aidan O'Brien running just 3 and leaving the winners of the Lingfield Derby Trial, Dee Stakes and Classic Trial at home - 18 going to post, the largest field since 2017; unlike that race, which looked wide open beforehand and produced a bunched finish, this field contained plenty that were hard to make a case for, a number of these having been beaten convincingly in a trial and quite a few with pedigrees that raised doubts about their ability to get the trip; the race proved uneventful, the winner Lambourn making all and never really looking under serious threat, ridden to make the most of his stamina, by a Derby winner who himself is by Galileo out of an Oaks winner; the winner was largely chased home by outsiders, the other 4 to start at single-figure odds all a long way below their best, some concerns about the value of the form as a result, the winner credited with a figure towards the lower end of the spectrum for a Derby winner at this stage.

LAMBOURN (IRE) found significant further improvement under a very-well-judged ride to land an eleventh Derby for his trainer, handling the track extremely well, like the stable's Oaks winner the previous day a grandson of Galileo, some concerns about the form, given so few of the fancied runners ran their race, but nothing in the overall time or sectionals to suggest he deserves other than to be given full credit for now and likely to get the chance to confirm the form in the Irish Derby, a race that ought to play to his strengths, the St Leger later on another obvious target, stamina likely to be his forte, acknowledging he's out of a Scat Daddy mare; led, shaken up briefly leaving stalls but soon travelling with zest, kicked on entering straight, looked in control 2f out, shaken up after, kept on well final 1f, unchallenged.

LAZY GRIFF (GER) runner-up behind the winner in the Chester Vase, likewise found plenty of improvement, handling the track better than most and seeing the race out well, one of the most stoutly bred in the field and an obvious candidate for a tilt at the St Leger later on; tracked pace, shaken up entering straight, took second 2f out, stayed on final 1f, no impression on winner.

TENNESSEE STUD (IRE) came on plenty for his reappearance behind the favourite and turned in a big career best, seeing out the trip well and worth marking up in coming from much further back than the first 2, taking on the winner again in the Irish Derby presumably the most likely option for him, being ridden closer to the pace in a smaller field giving a possible path to turning the tables; slowly into stride, held up, good headway when had to switch 2f out, disputed third final 1f, stayed on.

NEW GROUND very much on his toes beforehand and keener than ideal early as well, acquitted himself superbly well in this higher grade, despite not much going right for him, meeting trouble and stuck both wider and further back than ideal, but seeing his race out really well under the circumstances, looking suited by the extra distance, his effort fully justifying his being supplemented for the race and with claims of overturning the form with those ahead of him should they meet again; bumped start, raced freely out wide and gradually restrained until off pace after 3f, still plenty to do entering straight, effort when hampered over 3f out, stayed on from 2f out despite hanging right over 1f out, nearest at the finish; he's not a substantial type, but he looks a very smart colt in the making.

STANHOPE GARDENS (IRE) over a trip more in keeping with his pedigree, ran as well as could be expected in this much tougher grade following a solitary prep run against just 2 rivals over half a mile shorter, meeting some trouble but making good progress to press for a place before the effort just told late on; held up, effort approaching straight, hampered over 3f out, good headway into third 2f out, hung left 1f, no extra final strides; he's done well physically since 2 yrs and remains capable of better.

TORNADO ALERT (IRE) the only one representing the Guineas form after the withdrawal of Ruling Court, ran close to his Newmarket form, though he looked to run out of stamina in the latter stages over an extra 4f, perhaps significant that his only entry of note is in the Sussex Stakes; waited with, effort 3f out, no extra final 1f, never on terms; will be suited by a return to short of 1½m, also likely to benefit from his sights being lowered.

GREEN STORM (IRE) taking his chance despite running well below his best in his trial, looked as well as any in the paddock and showed to much better advantage under a more patient ride, running up to the pick of his form at 2 yrs, doing enough to suggest he's effective at the trip; mid-field, took keen hold, shaken up when switched over 3f out, headway over 2f out, wandered over 1f out, no extra; he's a useful colt, though probably one needing his sights lowering after this creditable effort.

NIGHTIME DANCER (IRE) looked to have a lot on in this company and he progressed again under a trademark Spencer ride, looking to be a long way out of his ground and with no chance of reaching the leaders but catching the eye with his progress in the last 2f; in rear, travelled well, still plenty to do 3f out, kept on from 2f out, nearest at the finish, had a hopeless task from position; open to further improvement, and this pays a compliment to Puppet Master and Stay True who'd beaten him at Lingfield.

DELACROIX (IRE) was a strong favourite, the choice of Ryan Moore for the stable that had all but swept the trials, but he had a race to forget, meeting trouble quite early and never really going after, almost certainly best to put a line through the effort; in touch, hampered after 3f and shuffled right back to rear, pushed along soon after halfway, brief headway under 3f out but effort soon flattened out; he's got a predictably comprehensive set of entries, where he goes depending on a lot of other pieces to be slotted into place, whether he will get another chance at this trip remaining to be seen, but the form of his 2 trial wins this spring was franked quite emphatically here and he remains open to improvement.

MIDAK (FR) unraced as a 2-y-o, had been supplemented after progressing rapidly this spring, winning all 3 starts, but he ran a long way below the form he showed in winning the Greffulhe last time, not seeing the race out after racing handier than most (should stay the extra 1f, acknowledging he's by Footstepsinthesand); handy, shaken up over 3f out, weakened over 1f out.

SEA SCOUT (IRE) had finished behind no fewer than 5 of these in the Dante and managed to beat all of them, though he was still some way below the pick of his form, on softer ground and over an extra 2f (should stay), unable to hold his position after not settling giving closest chase to the winner; chased leader, took strong hold, shaken up 3f out, weakened 2f out.

NIGHTWALKER took his chance despite defeat in 2 trials, the fitting of cheekpieces perhaps suggesting connections hadn't been entirely happy with those efforts, but the headgear looked to have an adverse effect, turning in a lacklustre effort and not really handling the track, just passing a few stragglers late on; slowly into stride, dropped out, never travelling well, hung left, labouring 4f out; should be suited by 1½m.

ROGUE IMPACT was out of his depth, nothing in his run at Lingifeld to encourage a tilt at the Derby; raced off the pace, labouring 4f out.

THE LION IN WINTER (IRE) took his chance despite his Dante flop, but he was unable to follow Auguste Rodin and City of Troy in bouncing back from a poor reappearance run to land the Derby, little zest in his effort and something to prove when next seen, the softer ground a possible straw to clutch at, while he did have the widest stall of all to contend with, too; settled mid-field out wide after 2f, shaken up home turn, hampered over 3f out, left behind.

AL WASL STORM (IRE) was in colours that had been carried by a couple of big-priced runners-up in this race, but he was asked an awful lot, stepping out of maiden company, and made no impact; slowly into stride, raced off the pace, labouring 4f out.

TUSCAN HILLS (FR) was an optimistic runner, not having done enough in the Dante to justify his place in this field, not shaping then as if he would benefit from the extra 2f, either (though his dam is by a Derby winner out of an Oaks winner), and he finished well held, not seeing the race out; in touch, shaken up entering straight, weakened 2f out and eased off.

PRIDE OF ARRAS (IRE) had made a strong case for his Derby claims in winning the Dante with authority, but he was in nothing like the same form, his lack of experience almost certainly a factor in such a large field, while he looked all at sea on the track and didn't have much luck in running, either, beaten well before stamina came into question over the extra 2f, though it should be pointed out that the Dante form was soundly trashed overall, none of the 6 that took part in the race making the first 10 here; bumped start, in touch, not settle fully out wide, shaken up over 4f out, weakening when short of room over 3f out, eased.

DAMYSUS had seemed likely to progress again, but he'd still looked immature despite his good effort in the Dante and he left the impression this was all too much for him, not really handling the track and beaten before the longer trip came into play (said to have suffered cuts to a hock when lashing out in the stalls); dived right leaving stalls, not settle fully, close up early, settled in touch after 2f, shaken up 4f out, hampered over 3f out, dropped away soon after; should stay this far.