SOUTHWELL 15:20

All 9 ran.

Time: 1m 30.3s Closing Sectional: (3f): 39.28s (98.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 114%, Betfair SP 101.5%

With 2 of the top 3 in the betting failing to give their running this wasn't as competitive as it might have been, though that shouldn't detract too much from what was essentially a smart performance from the well-backed Pearl Nation, who always had things in hand in the straight; Frontier Flight and Ifwecan forced a fairly strong pace from the off.

PEARL NATION (USA) back on fibresand, justified strong market support to resume winning ways in ready fashion, further enhancing his admirable course record in the process (3 victories from 5 starts); not ideally drawn, chased leaders, travelled smoothly, led 2f out, edged right, responded well; he's clearly most effective under these conditions, but he's certainly no one-trick pony in regards of surface and a Group 3 on dirt in Sweden is reportedly his next port of call.

PATRIOTIC (IRE) back on fibresand, bounced back to form; slowly into stride, mid-division, headway approaching straight, chased leader over 1f out, switched soon after, stuck to task; should remain competitive.

NOBLE CITIZEN (USA) had clearly come on for last month's reappearance and returned to form, the waiting tactics employed seeing him to good effect the way this panned out; held up, travelled as well as any, still plenty to do 3f out, ridden approaching straight, stayed on but held well inside final 1f.

IFWECAN shaped as if still in decent heart, taking to the fibresand at the first attempt but just doing too much too soon; close up, travelled better than usual, led over 3f out, headed 2f out, no extra final 1f; not one to dismiss out of hand next time.

TWO MOONS failed to repeat last effort, more to it than the 3 lb rise for his C&D success earlier this month, his profile very much hit and miss; mid-field, effort 3f out, one paced.

LOYALTY back on fibresand, ran below form, yet to fully convince on this surface; mid-field, driven approaching 3f out, made little impression.

DUBAI HILLS. probably needed run after 6 months off; raced off the pace, effort over 2f out, never landed a blow; is now entering the twilight of his career though, so may not be quite the force of old.

FREUD (FR) again showed little; raced off the pace, never landed a blow; plenty to prove at present.

FRONTIER FIGHTER back down in trip, was below again form returned to these shores after 8 weeks off, the application of a first-time visor failing to bring about a change in fortune, for all he probably ended up doing a bit too much too soon on this occasion; led until over 3f out, folded.