A good quality Long Distance Cup, in which the first three all surpassed the usual standard required to fill those positions, for all that the winner was not as dominant as he had been 12 months before or recently in France. The pace was rather stop-start (104% finishing speed), with crowding after about 3f and some bumping again 5f out. The ground was genuinely good to soft all round judged on times.

TRUESHAN (118 here, 121 previously) was not as authoritative as in this 12 months before, and did not quite reproduce that form or his form recently in France, but got the job done despite things not going perfectly for him and is incontrovertibly a high-class stayer with give underfoot. He raced freely even by his standards, tracking the pace, a bit wide on the home turn but responding to lead approaching 2f out, then drifting right but answering his rider’s calls. It might be interesting to see him in a good 12f race some day when the ground is soft and a good pace seems assured.

TASHKHAN (116 here, 103 previously) has taken off in his last two starts, especially this one, and looks a good prospect for Cup races next year, close up and travelling kindly, leading for a stride or two approaching 2f out and continuing to battle on to the line.

STRADIVARIUS (113 here, 115 previously) ran respectably again, despite things not going his way, but is not quite the force he once was, slightly bumped after 3f and set plenty to do, bumped again when making headway wide 5f out, then improving into contention early in the home straight (briefly nosed into second about 1f out) only to empty in the last 100 yards. There is little substance in the idea that this type of ground is against him, his Gold Cup win here on soft in 2020 remaining as good as anything he has ever achieved.  

HAMISH (108 here, 110+ previously) probably remains with some potential still, not quite getting home here but impressing with how he travelled against good rivals, bumped after 3f and held up, looking poised to challenge turning in but making only brief headway before fading.

MASTER OF REALITY (101 here, 107 previously) ran respectably but did not see out his race having been close up and disputed the lead briefly over 2f out.

BARON SAMEDI (101 here, 113 previously) was below form under his promising young jockey (who was again unable to claim) and in cheekpieces, hampered early and bumped again out wide 5f out, making only brief headway 3f out. The run of things had helped him somewhat the time before.  

NICHOLAS T (95 here, 98 previously) was steadied into rear and never figured but ran close to form in this much higher grade.

THE MEDITERRANEAN (91 here, 111 previously) remains with just one win and simply ran poorly here, soon done with after leading until over 2f out (caused trouble behind when moving to the rail after 3f).

ROBERTO ESCOBARR (81 here, 107 previously) ran poorly in first-time cheekpieces/tongue strap.

BERKSHIRE ROCCO (79 here, 110 previously) ran poorly in cheekpieces, hampered early and soon beaten 3f out, and needs to prove that he is as good as he was when second in the St Leger 13 months ago.