A race won by the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Cyrname and Shishkin over the years, but it had a second-division look to it this year, the winner doing it nicely and in a very useful time, but from just 3 rivals with their limitations, and the race setting up well for him also. It was run at quite a strong pace, with Master Chewy sitting a bit off it for most of the way before a 57.09s final 4f for a 102.4% finishing speed.

MASTER CHEWY (c148 here, 140 previously) is a significantly better chaser already than he was a hurdler and took this good prize with his best effort yet, held up in third before closing after 4 out, leading and shifting a bit right at the second-last but soon on top and mostly just pushed out. He ended up at around 20f over hurdles but a well-run race at shorter shows him in a good light right now.

NICKLE BACK (c141 here, 145 previously) ran creditably if perhaps not quite to his previous level, involved in a bit of a dogfight with Bourbali for much of the race, emerging on top in that after 4 out but a sitting duck for the winner who went past at the second-last.

SOUL ICON (c133 here and previously) finished too close for comfort for this to be rated top-drawer form but can be credited with a little improvement, last for most of the way and seeming to be going about as quick as possible, but sticking to his guns and taking third late on.

BOURBALI (c129 here and previously) finished where his previous form entitled him to be but showed lots of zest to mix it with a superior rival (the runner-up) for a long way and was beaten only going to 3 out. There could be better to come from him back down in class.