NEWMARKET (ROWLEY) 15:25

All 9 ran.

Time: 1m 38.01s Closing Sectional: (3f): 37.05s (99.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 118%, Betfair SP 100.4%

Poor efforts from Laurens and Hermosa meant this didn't take quite so much winning as anticipated, but the first 3 were all previous winners at Group 1 level and the form looks only slightly below the usual standard for the race, the winner back to her best at the scene of her greatest triumph, the race likely to be a curtain call for quite a few, notably Laurens, Lavender's Blue the one runner with a rather different profile.

BILLESDON BROOK back at the scene of her greatest success, proved at least as good as ever, gaining a third win from her last 4 starts, typically going smoothly through the race and picking up well when required; waited with, travelled well, effort 2f out, led final 100 yds, kept on well.

VERACIOUS ran creditably after 12 weeks off, confirming her form from last time to a large extent, just unable to hold off the challenge of one at the top of her game; handy, led over 1f out, kept on, headed final 100 yds, one paced.

IRIDESSA (IRE) ran respectably, kept to 1m, no obvious excuses on the day; in touch, travelled well, effort 2f out, challenged over 1f out, not quicken; her physique suggests she would do well at 4 yrs, though with 3 Group 1 wins to her name, connections may feel she has nothing left to prove.

LAVENDER'S BLUE (IRE) less exposed than the rest, ran well upped in grade, though she didn't seem entirely at home on the track, getting into full stride too late to land a blow; held up, effort 2f out, not quicken, kept on inside final 1f, finished with running left; she remains open to improvement and would be well worth keeping in training at 4 yrs.

I CAN FLY on her toes beforehand, was below form for the second start running; in rear, headway over 2f out, not quicken final 1f.

MADELEINE MUST (FR) ran about as well as could have been expected upped in grade, though she was rather worked up beforehand (early to post) and didn't give herself much chance by failing to settle; held up, not settle fully, pushed along over 3f out, made little impression; may yet do better.

LAURENS (FR) has been a grand servant to connections over the last 3 years, a Group 1 winner in each campaign and a classic winner too, but her swansong proved an anticlimax, not going so well as others from a fair way out and folding rather tamely; led, shaken up over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened.

HERMOSA (IRE) was below form, on her toes beforehand and perhaps losing the race in the preliminaries, as she had at Goodwood in the Nassau, though it's also worth bearing in mind that she's been on the go for quite a while now and had an intensive start to her campaign, which may have caught up with her; chased leader, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out.

CROWN WALK was making the track for just the third time this year and ran no sort of race; tracked pace early, settled mid-field after 2f, dropped away 2f out.