AYR 14:45

All 13 ran. Race Distance Adjustment: +21 yds

Time: 2m 14.14s

Overrounds: Industry SP 126%, Betfair SP 100.2%

It was only Austrian Theory's late progress that prevented a clean sweep of the places for 3-y-os and this has the hallmarks of very solid form, the first 4 all interesting for one reason or another and a little way clear of last year's winner, with the highly progressive Crowd Quake not seen to anything like best effect a place further back.

EL BURHAN (IRE) got back on the up in spades, proving himself well ahead of his mark tried at this trip for just the seocnd time, the first having come in a Royal Ascot handicap; mid-field, switched over 2f out, quickened to lead over 1f out, well on top finish; he's now won all 3 times he's encountered ground softer than good and will remain of definite interest this autumn.

AUSTRIAN THEORY (IRE) has slipped in the weights and got back on track, the only older horse to get amongst a trio of 3-y-os; in rear, steady headway from 2f out, finished well and took second on line; he won from this sort of mark last back-end and is getting ready to do so again.

HORNSEA BAY strong in the betting, is threatening to come good very soon, unlucky not to finish a bit closer; mid-division, not clear run under 3f out, headway under 2f out, denied a run and forced to switch 1f out, ran on.

SEX ON FIRE (IRE) back in a visor after 10 weeks off, ran well stepping out of 3-y-o-only company, seeing things out better than has sometimes been the case this year to prove himself over this 2f longer trip; waited with, progress 2f out, ran on.

FINANCER who won this race last year, shaped better than the distance beaten suggests, making his effort earlier than is often the case in first-time cheekpieces and leaving himself vulnerable as a result; in touch, loomed up under 3f out, led soon after, headed when wandered over 1f out, no extra final 100 yds; he's yet to win this year but has shaped well several times and may be able to put that right before the end of the season.

CROWD QUAKE after just 7 days off, can have this run ignored, doing well to get as close as he did given everything went wrong; short of room soon after start and lost several lengths, raced well off the pace, impeded by injured horse around halfway and left adrift of the others into the straight, switched over 1f out, ran on; this is absolutely not proof that he's finished improving yet.

DARK MOON RISING (IRE) couldn't get involved this time and will surely get another chance back over 1½m now; held up, hampered slightly over 2f out, merely plugged on.

DAIN MA NUT IN (IRE) had more on his plate with his mark having risen into the 90s but, more than that, just wasn't in quite the same form as of late; disputed lead until 2f out, one paced.

LIBERTY COACH in first-time tongue strap, had a productive time last autumn but is starting to look as though he's gone off the boil this time round; chased leaders until 2f out, outpaced gradually.

HAVE SECRET (IRE) down the field in really competitive races on his previous 2 outings, ended up suffering the same fate under a top claimer but might have needed the run after 10 weeks off, certainly shaping with more encouragement than his final position suggests; mid-division, progress under 3f out, hampered entering final 1f, faded.

CLOTH OF GOLD (IRE) had some strong form at 2 yrs but the market wasn't particularly positive about him after 9 months off, and he went with little encouragement on his handicap bow; chased leaders, carried head bit awkwardly under 3f out, dropped away 2f out; next run should reveal more.

MIDNIGHT LION after just 6 days off, has been keeping better company than he needs to but again finished right down the field, last of the finishers once more; disputed lead until 3f out, left behind quickly.

FLYING FINN (IRE) a cheaply-bought yearling who'd won 3 times and reached a useful level of form, was off the pace when breaking down around halfway and sadly couldn't be saved.