ASCOT 16:20 4n2t2w

All 9 ran.

Time: 4m 21.08s Closing Sectional: (3f): 36.5s (107.6%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 119%, Betfair SP 101.5%

A strong Gold Cup even without last year's winner, Big Orange, who is sidelined with injury, involving 4 previous Group 1 winners, the French-trained Vazirabad bringing something different to the table as he came to Britain for the first time and the form looks really solid, no question that it's right up there with the best renewals in recent years; Mount Moriah set no more than a fair pace, increasing it steadily once they were in the back straight, the overall time poor and the finish a relatively fast one.

STRADIVARIUS (IRE) is irably consistent and genuine to go alongside all of his talent and added another Group 1 staying prize to sit with last year's Goodwood Cup success, a career-best in of performance, not having an issue with the 4f increase in trip, most versatile in that regard, evidently a strong stayer yet possessing more than enough pace to drop right back in trip; tracked pace, went with enthusiasm, pushed along around 3f out, led approaching final 1f, immediately tackled, briefly looking vulnerable to Vazirabad, but kept on gamely; a repeat bid at Goodwood is on the cards, clearly the one to beat there and in all of the other major staying races for the rest of the season for all that the new draft of 3-y-os will start to break through; he was found to be lame behind having lost a shoe at the post-race examination, but hopefully there'll be no lasting damage.

VAZIRABAD (FR) has been one of the world's best stayers ever since bursting onto the scene as a 3-y-o, rare that he's run below par in those 3 years, and he was primed to perfection by De Royer Dupre for this first try at the Gold Cup, performing to his peak but up against a marginally more talented and more progressive rival; patiently ridden, travelled well, headway over 2f out, challenged approaching final 1f, kept on but always just held off; there's sure to be more big races in him and it'd be good to see him back in Britain as he certainly adds to the competitiveness of these races.

TORCEDOR (IRE) bettered his fifth in last year's renewal, another fine placed effort in a Group 1, kept fresh for this since winning the Sagaro impressively 7 weeks ago and producing another career-best performance to be in the mix with some of the best stayers in the world; hased leader, travelled well, went on over 3f out, headed approaching final 1f, rallied and gave his all; it's not often that he disappoints and he'll remain competitive in the big staying races.

ORDER OF ST GEORGE (IRE) is 6 now and maybe isn't quite the same force this year, not at his best for 2 recent wins, and although not disgraced in hitting the frame again in this race he had no excuses and was rather laboured in comparison to how he can be; chased leaders, off the bridle before most with over 4f to run, responded to hold every chance over 2f out but held when short of room entering the final 1f and had no more to give late on.

SCOTLAND (GER) has stood little racing since sixth in this 3 years ago, this only a fourth start in that period, but he proved that he retains a smart level of ability for all that he was no match for the principals; mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway when switched over 1f out, one paced; he's clearly very hard to train.

SHEIKHZAYEDROAD put up a big performance in Dubai in the spring but can't be at that level every time nowadays, understandable aged 9, and though not disgraced here he was no match for the principals; mid-field, chased leaders over 3f out, hung right over 2f out, plugged on; his last win came in the 2016 Long Distance Cup and he'll not better that now.

MAX DYNAMITE (FR) wasn't up to the task; patiently ridden, effort home turn, held when short of room over 1f out, made no impression.

MOUNT MORIAH took the field along until over 3f out but the stiff task soon told once headed, weakening, hanging left as he did so, the trip maybe stretching him too.

DESERT SKYLINE (IRE) proved to be a disappointment, always behind and looking awkward under pressure, something possibly amiss.