Small fields are the norm in this race over the years, and the quality of this one was up to scratch, even if the test was somewhat unsatisfactory, the winner dictating matters with 12.0s and 13.0s furlongs before putting in a succession of sub 12.0s splits in the last half mile (finishing speed in the 109% region). The ground was “good to firm”, officially and on times, the timefigure that resulted a long way below what might have been possible in a well-run race.

SIR RON PRIESTLEY (115 here and previously) had a bit of a boost to his Nottingham form as a result of the good run of Ocean Wind in the Sagaro Stakes a few days earlier, and confirmed he is at least as good as when second to Logician in the 2019 St Leger at Doncaster, despite having been off for 19 months after that effort. He got to dictate matters, but his jockey sensibly cranked things up fully half a mile from home and the response was both generous and sustained, as he was joined first by his stablemate and then pursued by the other joint-favourite, but ran straight and true for a ready success. He is effective under these conditions given a smart ride, as here, but 14f and 16f (which he has yet to attempt) should see him in at least as good light. He needs to improve a bit further against the best 12f performers, but not so much against top stayers (125-rated Stradivarius excepted).

PYLEDRIVER (111 here, 119 previously) was not discredited in form terms on what was his reappearance but failed to impress in other respects, and there is a slight question mark about him after this. He took a good hold, not for the first time, looked to be coming with a winning run at the 2f marker, then wandered as the winner pulled out more before ducking more markedly right inside the final 1f. He was one of the best British 3-y-os of last year, when he won the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, though he was also unplaced in The Derby at Epsom and (on soft ground) the Champion Stakes at Ascot.         

THUNDEROUS (108 here, 111 previously) had a Group 2 win to his name already, but that was in an ordinary Dante and he is likely to have to raise his game further to repeat the feat, in Britain at least. This was close to that York form and a clear improvement on his reappearance, but he found little after improving from second to dispute the lead 3f out. He seems likely to stay 12f on breeding, and perhaps it was lack of peak fitness which caused him to fade.

AL ZARAQAAN (102 here, 107 previously) was up against it compared to handicaps, the most recent of which he had won off a mark of 95, and ran well enough to suggest he copes fine with turf, unable to sustain his effort having been set a bit to do. 

PABLO ESCOBARR (91 here, 108 previously) was below form on his first start since August, shaping as if the race will bring him on.