made virtually all, hard ridden over 1f out, kept on gamely throughout final furlong, driven out
in touch, 6th and pushed along straight, ridden and hung left 2f out, headway into 3rd over 1f out, until entering final furlong
held up in touch, 5th straight, hung badly left to rails over 2f out, soon eased and not recover
took keen hold, held up in rear, 8th straight, switched right over 2f out, soon edged left and not clear run, made some headway inside final furlong
chased leaders, driven along over 2f out, soon one pace, no extra final furlong
held up in touch, 7th straight, driven along over 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd entering final furlong, not pace of front pair
chased winner throughout, hard ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, always held
took keen hold, tracked leaders, 4th straight, ridden and weakened over 2f out
slowly away, held up in rear, last straight, effort on outside 2f out, tenderly handled when not striding out from over 1f out
CROISULTAN is taken to provide the Irish with a second winner of this race in three years; Nasri should go well again and it's too early to write off Mishrif. Mastoora is respected with her yard going well and she did win easily at Folkestone but this is a big step up in grade and connections may just be trying to pinch some black type. Akhenaten is far more exposed but is tough and durable and appeals as the type to go well at a price with the step back up in trip possibly in his favour. A visor may benefit Khor Dubai but his return to action was disappointing as was Mishrif's effort at Sandown; the Chapple-Hyam charge had performed well prior to that and is no forlorn hope. Nasri is the highest rated horse in the race and posted a more encouraging performance at Newmarket in a race that favoured those up with the pace so he deserves credit in coming from behind. He's feared but is likely to be a far shorter price than Liam McAteer's son of Refuse To Bend who comes into this race in the form of his life. He put up a decent performance when chasing home a decent yardstick of Mrs Harrington's on heavy ground and proved that wasn't a one-off with his ready defeat of the useful Sugar Free in a three runner race. This race was subsequently nominated as his target with neither the longer trip nor better ground deemed detrimental to his chances and there's plenty to recommend Croisultan.
Ocean's Minstrel 100-1 (9-0) Made most until 3f out, weakened well over 1f out, 10th of 15, 10l behind Sea The Stars (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 3yo (1) gf in May.
Akhenaten 13-2 (8-10) Tracked winner, driven when edged left over 1f out, ran on final furlong, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Proclaim (8-10) at Doncaster 6f 3yo stk 0-95 (2) gf in May.
Croisultan (IRE) 1-2fav (9-0) Made all, ridden and kept on well final furlong, won at Navan 6f 3yo stk sft in May beating Sugar Free (8-9) by 3 1/2l, 3 ran.
Khor Dubai (IRE) 11-4fav (8-6) Dwelt, in rear of main group, ridden over 1f out, ran on well to lead post, won at Newmarket 6f 2yo & 3yo stk (3) gs in Oct beating Arabian Art (8-13) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Mishrif (USA) 12-1 (9-0) Prominent until lost touch and in rear 4f out, soon well behind, tailed off final 2f, last of 6, 50l behind Above Average (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Nasri 11-2 (9-0) Held up in rear, driven and headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on well final furlong, not reached winner, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Alyarf (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 3yo lst stks (1) gf in May.
Ermine And Velvet 11-1 (8-12) Prominent on outside, ridden to lead 2f out, no extra when headed just over 1f out, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Prince Of Dance (9-3) at Newbury 7f 3yo mdn (4) gs in May.
Isabella Grey 25-1 (8-12) Led, headed over 2f out, driven and soon weakened, 12th of 15, 18l behind Desert Creek (7-12) at Haydock 1m 3yo hcp (2) hvy in May.
Mastoora (IRE) 11-4fav (8-8) Keen early, tracked leader, led on bit over 1f out, soon clear, very easy, won at Folkestone 7f mdn stks (5) gd in Apr beating Safari Guide (8-13) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
