ASCOT 15:50 1b1l54

All 10 ran.

Time: 2m 11.75s Closing Sectional: (3f): 38.4s (103.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 117%, Betfair SP 98.6%

A Champions day in want of what felt like a real champion to this point, got one in spades with one of the best, if not the best, performances of the whole season, in Europe at least, the failure of one or 2 of the more likely challengers to Cracksman to deliver tempering enthusiasm only slightly, soft ground helping stretch the margin of victory - though the same could be said of Enable's King George, for example - but all in all, this was a performance that Cracksman had promised all summer, debates about the rights and wrongs of missing the Arc now redundant, success in that race and this for his stable stars fully justifying connections' decisions; the pace was sound, position making no difference to such a clearcut outcome, though the fourth might well have been runner-up under less testing conditions.

CRACKSMAN had gone on well from his defeat in the Derby, despite supposed immaturity, controversially missing the Arc, though that decision was clearly fully vindicated by his much-improved performance here, as good as any in Europe this year, and one which promises much for a 4-y-o campaign, when hopefully he will clash with his stable companion Enable at some stage, perhaps here in the King George; in touch, travelled well, led over 2f out, stayed on strongly, impressive; he's clearly as effective over this trip as over further, at least under testing conditions, and he handles very soft ground much better than most.

POET'S WORD (IRE) has taken the step up to Group 1 level in his stride and ran creditably, though no match for a genuinely top-class rival; in touch, ridden over 2f out, chased leader final 1f, stayed on, made no impression; he'd be woth keeping in training, only beginning to show his full abilities.

HIGHLAND REEL (IRE) got third place mostly on guts, running to a similar level as last time, not at his best on unsuitable ground; raced wide, prominent, ridden straight, edged right, not quicken over 2f out, kept on well final 1f; he's been unfortunate with the weather since the Royal meeting, a trip to California hopefully not similarly troubled.

RECOLETOS (FR) looked an optimistic contender at this level, but he ran well, handling the ground better than most, a shade better than the result too, geed up beforehand and just stretched by conditions sufficiently to cost him second place; held up, travelled well, effort 2f out, second 1f out, no extra final 50 yds.

DESERT ENCOUNTER (IRE) ran respectably, given the company, ridden in now typical fashion to pick up the pieces; dropped out, effort over 2f out, stayed on final 1f, never a threat.

BRAMETOT (IRE) was below form on the softest ground he's encountered, though perhaps his effort in the Arc had taken the edge off of him; held up, ridden 3f out, left behind over 1f out.

CLIFFS OF MOHER (IRE) had finished a neck ahead of Cracksman in the Derby, his career stalling since, softer ground a factor here perhaps, slightly surprising he's been campaigned at this trip since Epsom; mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten.

MAVERICK WAVE (USA) might have looked hungry in the Wolferton, but he's not been allowed any dinner since, pacemaking (or not) again; chased leaders, weakened quickly early in straight.

BARNEY ROY after 8 weeks off, was on much the softest ground he'd encountered and didn't appear to handle it; held up, effort over 2f out, no extra soon after; he's a high-class performer and has the physique to delevop further at 4 yrs, given the chance.

SUCCESS DAYS (IRE) finished last in a Group 1 for the second start running; led until over 2f out, weakened soon after.