Expert Analysis

A race of greater importance this year than usual, acting as an Arc trial for the good Japanese colt Croix Du Nord. It was a tactical affair, even by French standards, with a late sprint and the winner better placed than the runner-up. The former’s final 400m of 22.04s on ground that was borderline “soft” and “good to soft” in a wider context prompts a 119.5% finishing speed.

CROIX DU NORD (116+ here, 119 previously) is a solid contender for the Arc, even though he was fortunate to win this and will have to run a few lengths better in all probability to win the big one next month, better placed than the runner-up in the sprint to the finish, getting to the front approaching 200m out and just holding on. He was conceding a small amount of weight to the second, was down in trip and on softer ground than previously, racing on the other side of the world to his Japanese Derby victory in June, and so all in all had plenty to overcome. Odds of around 10-1 seem about right all told for a horse who has not yet rivalled the accomplishments of some of the true Japanese greats.

DARYZ (114+ here and previously) had shaped better than the result in the International and did so again here, set plenty to do and having to be switched round rivals as he came through, closing at the line but just failing to get there. His dam won the 2400m Hong Kong vase and came 4^th in Harbinger’s King George at Ascot, and, a son of Sea The Stars, he promises to give a good account in the Arc if connections go for that.

NAHRAAN (107 here, 102+ previously) lost his unbeaten record but no standing in defeat, with every chance when it mattered.

UTHRED (106 here and previously) had won a listed race by 7 lengths the time before and confirmed himself as decidedly useful.

BOLSTER (106 here, 109 previously)

DUMONET (94 here, 106 previously)

DARING PRINCE (86 here, 99 previously)