YORK 15:35

Non Runners: MUTHMIR (IRE).

Time: 57.18s Closing Sectional: (3f): 33.9s (101.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 123%, Betfair SP 99.5%

Battaash, the outstanding 5f sprinter of the day, came to bury the ghost of his defeat in this race in 2017, but he was again well below his best, not going with anything like his usual zest, his main rival Blue Point run off his feet over this sharper 5f and not near his best either, the race falling to one that had looked nowhere near up to this level previously, the runner-up comfortably beaten by the market leaders at Ascot; it's best to take a relatively cautious view of the form, plenty of the others failing to fire too, one worth marking up the fifth Havana Grey, who would surely have gone close had he been racing with the main body of the field.

ALPHA DELPHINI has been in good form at a lower level all year, though narrow defeats on his all 4 starts, including behind the runner-up in the Palace House, suggested he had plenty to find to make an impact, but he had ideal conditions and showed a very willing attitude to take advantage of his much more exalted rivals' failing to fire; disputed lead, went with zest, ridden 2f out, edged ahead 1f out, kept on well, all out to hold on.

MABS CROSS also ran the race of her life, a pixel away from sharing the spoils in a Group 1, taking advantage of the pair that had beaten her convincingly in the King's Stand not giving their running; waited with, travelled well, headway over 1f out, disputed lead inside final 1f, kept on well, just failed; she's been placed twice at Group 1 level this summer and will presumably take her chance to try and get her head in front in the Abbaye.

BLUE POINT (IRE) again failed to repeat his Ascot form, much less well suited by this sharper 5f, run off his feet, though again able to get the better of Battaash late on; mid-division, outpaced before halfway, stayed on final 1f, took third close home, never landed a blow; he has a bit to prove all of a sudden.

BATTAASH (IRE) flopped in this race for the second year running, not so obviously worked up beforehand this time, though he sweated up at the start, but just running flat, not going with anything like his usual zest and clearly in trouble a fair way out; close up, led briefly over 1f out, no extra final 100 yds; he remains with 3 outstanding efforts over the last year or so, on those clearly the best 5f performer for many a year, and hopefully he will show that level again in the Abbaye, a race he won (at a different track) last autumn.

HAVANA GREY ran closer to his best than he had at Goodwood, shaping better than the bare result too, as he was isolated towards the far side, likely to have gone close had he raced with the main pack; raced alone towards far side, disputed lead, ridden 2f out, no extra well inside final 1f.

TAKE COVER just wasn't in the same form as last time, that big effort likely to have taken plenty out of him; led, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out.

HEARTACHE has struggled to make much impact in top sprints this year and it was a similar story this time; raced off the pace, some headway 2f out, no extra final 1f, never on terms.

SIOUX NATION (USA) was well held in first-time blinkers (tongue strap left off), faring little better than last time, his fifth in the July Cup much the best of his last 4 runs; raced off the pace, driven 2f out, one paced.

MR LUPTON (IRE) had beaten the winner here 2 starts ago, but his trademark strong finish was entirely missing this time, well below his best; slowly into stride, outpaced.

BATTLE OF JERICHO (USA) had a lot to find to be competitive at this level and wasn't near up to the task; in touch, edged left, outpaced after halfway.

CASPIAN PRINCE (IRE) had 2 runs this summer that suggested he ought to have been a match for the first 2, but he wasn't anywhere near that level, in trouble soon after halfway; pressed leader, labouring over 2f out.

WASHINGTON DC (IRE) has one really good run to his name this year, but on balance he's quite easy to dismiss from calculations at this level; soon behind, ridden over 2f out, made no impression.

JUDICIAL (IRE) after 7 weeks off, was essentially found out in better company, though his finishing effort was pretty tame too; mid-division, driven, headway 2f out, edged left, weakened final 1f.

ABEL HANDY (IRE) had done nothing this year to think he had any chance at this level and he was again well held; chased leaders, driven halfway, weakened over 1f out.

DECLARATIONOFPEACE (USA) failed to fire in blinkers a second time, last now on 3 of his 4 starts this year; slowly into stride, always behind.