SALISBURY 16:00

Non Runners: MORACHE MUSIC, RUWAIYAN (USA), OUTBACK TRAVELLER (IRE), MUSICAL COMEDY, AEOLUS, MARKAZ (IRE), GLENALMOND (IRE).

Time: 1m 12.88s Closing Sectional: (3.25f): 38.8s (101.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 106%, Betfair SP 99.1%

To go from 11 entries to just 4 starters is obviously an unsatisfactory state of affairs, but it shouldn't be a stick with which to beat the practice of 48-hour declarations, the unspoken benefits far outweighing the odd occasion where the system fails; what was left was effectively a match, after Minalisa had another off day, and the small field was arguably more Justineo's bag, especially as he controlled things, and though taking a while to assert, not until the last 100 yds or so, Absolutely So's superiority was clear by the line.

ABSOLUTELY SO (IRE) didn't miss what was effectively a penalty kick for him, excusable in the circumstances that he took some time and pressure to master Justineo, but the strength of his last 100 yds, allied to his comeback third at Haydock, suggests he could well put a bit more on top of his smart rating from 2014 and make a Group-race breakthrough this year.

JUSTINEO back to something approaching his best, but these were conducive conditions, not flattering him as such but certainly showing him in a favourable light, dominating the much-reduced field, making Absolutely So dance to his tune and getting him off the bridle while he was still being nursed by Crowley, but overpowered in the final 100 yds.

MINALISA may just be late coming to hand, but even so it's been a rather disconcerting start to her season, checking out tamely at Windsor and never on an even keel here, free to begin with but no sooner settled than needing shoving along, more than a hint of temperament to her display.

VAN ELLIS hard to get a handle on, but finishing last on both starts back from long absence tells its own story, tongue tie having no discernible effect here, soon dropping away once the pace was wound up.