YORK 15:40

All 20 ran.

Time: 2m 53.48s Closing Sectional: (3f): 36.25s (103.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 136%, Betfair SP 100.6%

A now typical renewal of the Ebor, the field made up of smart but exposed types, lots of whom have had plenty of goes in pattern company without necessarily being able to cut the mustard, Muntahaa a notable exception in that he won the John Porter Stakes last season and was probably better than ever in winning by this by a surprisingly wide margin, the step back up in trip seemingly very much in his favour, his stable-companion Weekender chasing him home and producing a performance of very similar merit under top weight; the gallop seemed sound without being breakneck, and things got a bit tight towards the far rail through the final 2f, the stable-companions Whiskey Sour and, to a greater extent, the favourite Stratum suffering trouble in running.

MUNTAHAA (IRE) had been shaping as though a return to this trip could pay dividends but it's doubtful many expected him to produce this kind of performance, an impressive winner from a BHA mark of 109 and, in terms of figures, even bettering the form he produced when winning the John Porter last season, the large-field scenario clearly suiting (can be overly keen); out wide back straight, settled mid-field end of back straight, headway on bridle from 3f out, quickened to lead entering final 1f, stayed on strongly; unsurprisingly, the Melbourne Cup was mooted as a possibility afterwards.

WEEKENDER was strong in the betting and returned from 10 weeks off with a career best under top weight, the trick now to reproduce this sort of performance back in listed/pattern company; tracked pace, travelled fluently, produced to lead 3f out, headed entering final 1f, no match for winner.

SEA THE LION (IRE) was strong in the betting after 8 weeks off and acquitted himself really well from an 11 lb higher mark than last time, meeting with his first defeat of the season but finding only the Gosden pair too good; in touch, headway over 3f out, challenged under 2f out, stayed on.

MUSTAJEER is better than ever this season and ran a cracker from a prohibitive-looking mark back in a handicap, if anything seeming suited by this first attempt beyond 1½m; patiently ridden, headway under pressure 2f out, stayed on well.

BLAKENEY POINT is a reliable sort who again performed up to his best, this time in a change of headgear; held up, headway under pressure 3f out, kept on.

WHISKEY SOUR (IRE) would have run up to his best with a bit more luck in running without necessarily finishing much more than a length or so closer, vulnerable from a BHA mark of 103 in such competitive company; mid-field, short of room from 3f out, got gap over 1f out, kept on.

NAKEETA was 4 lb higher than the previous year and ran to a similar level of form as he attempted a repeat success, needing no excuses; patiently ridden, headway under 3f out, not quicken approaching final 1f.

MONTALY hails from a yard in terrific form and, after 7 weeks off, ran better than previously this season, albeit never really in the race tackling a shorter trip than for some time; held up, still plenty to do over 2f out, headway under pressure soon after, nearest at the finish.

SAUNTER (FR) after just 7 days off, had no easy task under a 7-lb penalty and ran up to his best, still an interesting horse for the autumn; dropped out, came wide straight, headway under pressure from 3f out, not quicken final 1f.

CROWNED EAGLE is an enthusiastic type who didn't wholly convince with his stamina at this longer trip, certainly going as though still in good heart, however; close up, went with enthusiasm, went on entering straight, headed 3f out, no extra over 1f out.

LORD YEATS after 3 months off, shaped as if still in good form, back in a handicap for the first time since down the field in this last year and probably finding underfoot conditions plenty lively enough; mid-field, chased leaders early in straight, driven over 3f out, not quicken.

STRATUM was again all the rage in the ante-post market after his JLT success (form which has worked out well in the main) but he didn't get the chance to show whether he was still ahead of his mark this time, the run best ignored when assessing his chance next time; patiently ridden, steady progress from 3f out, denied a run under 2f out, snatched up, not recover; earlier comments regarding his Cesarewitch suitability still hold good, though there's not even an ante-post market for the race at this stage.

SCOTLAND (GER) isn't easy to place these days but, minus a hood for the first time in a while and with the assistance of a good claimer, he did shape better than the bare result; in rear, came wide approaching straight, good headway over 3f out, effort flattened out.

DYLAN MOUTH (IRE) had won over this C&D on his previous start, but that was a steadily-run Group 3 and he didn't last home ridden much more prominently in this considerably deeper race; tracked pace, went with enthusiasm, ridden over 3f out, faded from 2f out.

FUN MAC (GER) found the emphasis too much on speed in a race this competitive; mid-field, outpaced over 3f out.

TEODORO (IRE) was well-in under just a 4-lb penalty for his Group 3 win at Haydock, but this appreciably longer trip was always likely to be a big concern and, maybe predictably, he failed to stay; tracked pace, shaken up 3f out, weakened under 2f out; his new BHA mark of 114 means that handicaps are pretty much out of the question for him in the near future.

MOUNTAIN BELL after 9 weeks off, has largely been kept away from fast ground on turf (best form on soft/heavy) and was possibly unsuited by conditions, not that her mark would have enabled her to figure that prominently, anyway; in touch, ridden 3f out, no response.

PLATITUDE ran poorly; in touch, weakened 3f out.

TIME TO STUDY (FR) seemed to take little interest in a first-time visor, a series of hard races earlier this season maybe having a taken a toll on his attitude; slowly into stride, went in snatches, no chance early in straight, eased off.

MY REWARD led until entering straight, dropped away quickly, eased off; he's beaten just 3 of 51 rivals in 4 starts since winning at Pontefract.