ASCOT 15:05 1b21y

Non Runners: COLD CASE.

Time: 1m 13.15s Closing Sectional: (2f): 24.3s (100.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 120%, Betfair SP 101%

By no means a vintage renewal of the Commonwealth Cup, plenty looking to be making up the numbers, and with several at big prices finishing close up and 2 of the front 4 in the market, Lezoo and Sakheer running poorly, the bare form looks suspect, though that said the winner produced a remarkable performance to win after completely blowing the start; the field raced essentially as one group, though the 5 highest drawn, including Lezoo and Sakheer, were never really at the races.

SHAQUILLE produced a remarkable performance, able to overcome a terrible start to score with something in hand, the bare form no better than that he produced at Newbury, but clearly value for more; reared stalls and lost at least 5 lengths start, in rear, tanked along, smooth progress 2f out, led under pressure last ½f, asserted soon after, won readily; he's a very smart sprinter considering the extra he was value for here, and it's to be hoped his antics at the start don't prevent him from showing as much another day, but for those reasons, his promotion to clear favourite for the July Cup (as short as 5/2) looks an overreaction.

LITTLE BIG BEAR (IRE) held clear form claims and went close, though some way below the form he showed when winning the Phoenix Stakes, some doubt now whether he will ever reproduce that effort, no obvious excuses in this; close up, travelled well, shaken up under 2f out, led 1f out, headed last ½f, not quicken.

SWINGALONG (IRE) seemed to excel herself, well served by the drop back in trip, though seen to maximum advantage from the front, not sure to repeat this form; led, travelled well, shaken up 2f out, headed 1f out, one paced.

OCEAN QUEST (IRE) ran well upped in grade, under conditions that suit her and well positioned behind the pace, needing no excuses; waited with, shaken up over 2f out, not quicken, kept on inside final 1f.

RUMSTAR stepped up on his reappearance run, producing a career best on his first start at Group 1 level, seen to advantage from an ideal position behind the pace; waited with, tracked pace over 2f out, shaken up, not quicken, kept on inside final 1f.

QUEEN ME (IRE) back down to a more suitable trip, but still highly tried, seemed to excel herself, on firmer ground than previously; prominent, took keen hold, shaken up 2f out, not quicken, kept on inside final 1f.

SHOULDVEBEENARING was below form, up in grade, drawn away from the main action and better judged on previous efforts; held up, still plenty to do 2f out, shaken up after, kept on final 1f, not unduly punished, never on .

MISCHIEF MAGIC (IRE) ran better than on his return, but was again below form, in first-time tongue strap (suggesting there were issues other than the ground last time), his stable having a disappointing week to this point; steadied at the start, ridden over 2f out, hung right, faded final 1f, never on .

NOBLE STYLE was tried in first-time cheekpieces after his underwhelming effort behind the winner at Newbury when odds on, but ran even worse, in danger of going the wrong way, his stable not slow to geld suspect characters, that likely to be the next option; waited with, shaken up over 2f out, carried head bit awkwardly, weakened over 1f out.

LEZOO was below form, back over a more suitable trip, but drawn away from the main action and never looking likely to get involved; raced off the pace, shaken up under 2f out, made no impression; she might benefit from a drop in grade to try and get her back on track.

THE X O (IRE) had had plenty in his favour when runner-up in the Pavilion Stakes here last time and wasn't able to repeat that form in this much tougher contest; in touch, shaken up over 2f out, edged right, left behind soon after.

MARBAAN up in grade, seemed likely to be flying too high and wasn't in the same form as last time, not being well drawn part of the problem; prominent, left behind 2f out.

SAKHEER (IRE) seemed likely to be suited by the drop back to 6f, but ran no sort of race, more to it than a poor draw (subsequently reported by his trainer to be unsound and investigated for front limb lameness); mid-division, labouring over 2f out, left behind soon after.