Orthodox wasn’t quite as quick in the Norfolk as the 2025 winner, Charles Darwin, but he was faster than every other winner in the last twenty years apart from No Nay Never. The American contingent here ensured there was pace across the track and these juveniles went hard, with the final two furlongs finishing speed percentage coming in at 97.09%. In the end, the winner was dominant and crossed the line three and a half lengths ahead of the rest, suggesting he is an above-average one.
ran out an impressive winner at the line here, staying on well enough despite the strong pace, having shown gears earlier in the contest to cope with the speed. Having started near side from stall 16, he edged towards the centre of the track before going after the leaders in the penultimate furlong and powering away from tired rivals in the closing stages.
raced largely up the centre although ended up being closer to the far side. He seemed to be coming with a challenge approaching the final furlong, but it quickly became clear that the winner was finishing much stronger. He faded in the final 100 yards or so but held on for second.
came from much further back, travelling well through the race. He didn’t have a perfectly smooth run and had his momentum stalled briefly about a furlong out before running on again. It was a huge step forward from his York novice third.
was in a good position at the rear early given the pace, but it took him a long time to get to grips with the tempo. He was still last of all well inside the penultimate furlong but produced a powerful late surge. I think he will improve dramatically for this.
deserves to be marked up significantly due to the pace she went in front, which included an opening furlong of 13.41 seconds (compared to 13.55 seconds leading the Group 1 sprint for the older horses). She did remarkably well to stay involved inside the final furlong.
was up there throughout too, closer to the far side. She also shaped better than the result and only got tired in the final furlong as she faded into sixth.
has already had five runs after this effort. While he clearly improved in the first-time visor, it is hard to see him progressing like some of the others.
started on the far side but ended up closer to the centre. He plugged on without ever really making up much ground on the principles.
was disappointing here as he never really got involved despite being sent off 5/2 favourite and having good form in the book.
outran his odds even though he was closer to the early pace than ideal.
was held up in the centre and plugged on late past beaten horses.
had beaten the Coventry second at Sandown but wasn’t as good here as he failed to get involved.
was slowly away and with the pace on here that it meant he was several lengths off it. He never managed to get much closer.
was prominent far side and edged towards the centre before fading in the final furlong.
switched towards the centre from his draw in 21 but never got any closer than midfield.
didn’t last as well as her stablemates and felt the pinch in the final furlong and a half.
put in a quick second sectional but faded in the final two furlongs.
was ridden off the pace but failed to capitalise on that efficiency and faded from the two-furlong pole.
was pushed along for much of the second half of the race and got very tired late on.
was weak in the betting and ran accordingly.
was always towards the rear.
