NEWMARKET (ROWLEY) 15:35

All 19 ran.

Time: 1m 36.84s Closing Sectional: (3f): 36.9s (98.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 128%, Betfair SP 96.7%

Inevitably the absence of several of the leading ante-post fancies took some of the gloss off the first classic of the season, the leading juvenile Too Darn Hot having met with a set-back, Quorto and Persian King - staying in France - other notable absentees, though that led to a field that had quantity if nothing else, the race attracting the joint-largest field since 24 went to post in 2007, the inconclusive nature of the main trials meaning the first 4 from the Craven and the second and third from the Greenham - the winner Mohaather another absent through injury - were in the line-up, though the market was headed by 2 Group 1 winners at 2 yrs, Ten Sovereigns and Magna Grecia; the key point of the race was almost immediately after the start, a group of 3 headed by Shine So Bright heading for the stands rail, the vast majority running up the centre, Emaraaty Ana running solo near the far side and irrelevant so far as the race goes, the pace set by Shine So Bright better than that set in the centre, the advantage his group had at the 3f marker sustained to the finish, the first 2 home the other pair in that group, subsequent events at the meeting suggesting there was no great advantage in being on the rail, more that the way that group ran was more effective than the main group in the centre; that makes for a somewhat unsatisfactory outcome, though it's hard to believe Magna Grecia wouldn't have won wherever he was positioned, his performance looking that of an average Guineas winner, at this point at least, clearly behind 5 this century but on a par with the majority of the others, likely to be campaigned at this trip, the finish in the centre much less clearcut, Skardu emerging narrowly the best.

MAGNA GRECIA (IRE) had some of the best form in the race, narrowly beaten by Persian King in the Autumn Stakes and winner of the Futurity at Doncaster at 2 yrs, and he progressed significantly again after 6 months off, laying down a marker for the top races in the miling division for the summer, a clearcut winner on the day, for all that there was an advantage in racing in the group that he did; raced stand side, tracked pace, travelled well, shaken up over 2f out, led over 1f out, in command, kept on well; he saw the 1m out well and will likely stay a bit further if the time comes, but his chance of staying a 1½m would be slight and it's no surprise that he will be campaigned with the Irish Guineas and St James's Palace on the agenda, likely to take all the beating in the first of those at the end of the month.

KING OF CHANGE excelled himself, taking a big step up in class and improving by the best part of 2 stone, an element of opportunity about it, given he was in the small group on the stand side, but deserving credit for being competitive with the winner for much of the way; raced stand side, tracked pace, challenged over 2f out, left behind by winner final 1f, stayed on; he looks the part and this was just his fourth run, though it's hard to see why he should reverse the placings with the winner were they to meet again, and he might be better off going up in trip, bred to stay further and entered in the Dante and the Derby after all.

SKARDU was one of the least exposed in the line-up and he acquitted himself really well, not improving straightaway on his form in the Craven but the opportunity to do so sure to present itself in due course, 'winning' the race in the main group but having little chance of pegging back the pair on the stands side; raced centre, held up, headway over 2f out, challenged soon after, kept on, took third close home; he is sure to progress again and could well prove the main threat to the winner were they to meet again at either the Curragh or Royal Ascot.

MADHMOON (IRE) back at 1m and away from soft ground, had his chance in the main group and ran his race, just losing out to the third as he overhauled Ten Sovereigns late on, entered in the Derby and certainly worth a try in a trial over further than 1m, one of the best of these on looks and in excellent shape beforehand; raced centre, in touch, effort 3f out, not quicken over 1f out, rallied final 100 yds.

TEN SOVEREIGNS (IRE) after 7 months off, looked just about the pick on form, having won all 3 starts at 2 yrs, including the Middle Park, but he was stretched by the 2f longer trip and ran below that level, overhauled late on by a pair that he'd looked to have the measure of 1f out; raced centre, prominent, shaken up to lead group over 2f out, kept on but no impression on stand-side group, faded and lost 2 places close home; he's set for a drop back in trip and holds a Commonwealth Cup entry, though Calyx will be a tough nut to crack in that.

SHINE SO BRIGHT ran well upped in grade, an element of being stretched by the 1f longer trip and having done a bit too much in setting the pace for the first 2, suggesting perhaps a better performance yet to come back at 7f, likely to be competitive at a lower level in pattern company, his style of racing the sort to pay dividends another day; raced stand side, led overall, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final 1f.

KICK ON back down in trip, ran about as well as could have been expected upped in grade, presumably his ownership the reason for his running here rather than in the Poulains; raced centre, prominent, not quicken 2f out, kept on again well inside final 1f; he remains with potential at a lower level at around this trip.

URBAN ICON over 1f longer trip, ran about as well as could have been expected upped in grade, turning the tables on the runner-up from the Greenham without being fully competitive at this level; raced centre, in touch, ridden 3f out, not quicken, kept on final 1f; he's held in high regard (clearly thought better of than the runner-up) and is likely to progress further if campaigned realisitically, entered in the St James's Palace and Commonwealth Cup, but perhaps races like the Heron Stakes and Jersey a better route to take.

GREAT SCOT back up in trip, was essentially found out in better company, though unable to confirm placings from the Greenham with the third; raced centre, in touch, not settle fully, ridden 3f out, not quicken, plugged on final 1f.

MOMKIN (IRE) might have been a bit unlucky in the Craven, but he couldn't turn the tables on the less exposed winner from that race, far from it, essentially found out in better company; raced centre, in rear, effort over 3f out, headway 2f out, never landed a blow.

AZANO ran about as well as could have been expected upped in grade, a return to being ridden up with the pace to his advantage; raced centre, led group, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final 1f.

DARK VISION (IRE) perhaps did too much too soon early in his career and was well held, facing his stiffest task to date, not really handling the track; raced centre, in touch, ridden over 3f out, wandered, weakened 2f out.

ROYAL MARINE (IRE) had a hood to try and settle him after his Craven defeat, but he went backwards from that reappearance, beaten a long way out, plenty to prove now, 2 flops and a mishap since his win in the Lagardere; raced centre, in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out.

SET PIECE was well below form in first-time tongue strap, and having not been fully at home on the track in the Craven, he looked thoroughly ill at ease on it this time; slowly into stride, raced centre, dropped out, good progress over 3f out, hung right, weakened 2f out; the way in which he moved into the race suggests as yet untapped ability and he remains with potential, at least away from Newmarket.

ADVERTISE runner-up to Too Darn Hot in the Dewhurst, looked to have done plenty of work and has the physique to make an impact at 3 yrs, but he didn't run much of a race after 7 months off, beaten well before the longer trip came into play (not certain to stay 1m); raced centre, held up, not settle fully, labouring over 2f out; he had some strong form at 2 yrs, so isn't one to write off just yet.

AL HILALEE had been supplemented for the race, though his big-race entries and pedigree suggest he is more likely to come into his own when stepped up in trip, lacking the maturity and form in any case to make any impact in this, on his toes beforehand and unable to cope with the demands of the race; raced centre, held up, pulled hard, ridden 3f out, left behind soon after: clearly thought capable of better and remains with potential.

SPORTING CHANCE had had loads of chances at a lower level, showing himself just useful, and he was well out of his depth in this company; raced centre, chased leaders, not settle fully, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out.

EMARAATY ANA was well held after 7 months off, racing solo and given no chance of staying by the ride he was given (should stay 1m on pedigree, possibly not on demeanour); raced far side, helped force pace, weakened quickly 3f out.

NAME THE WIND making turf debut, was well held, finding this a very different kettle of fish; raced centre, held up, not settle fully, left behind under 3f out.