YORK 15:35

Non Runners: COHESION.

Time: 2m 56.54s Closing Sectional: (5f): 37.4s (170.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 129%, Betfair SP 102%

It's getting harder to get into the Ebor each year it seems, bottom weight this year competing from a BHA mark of 101, and it was a tight handicap with only 9 lb between top and bottom weight; there was a contested pace and they went a strong gallop, the finish dominated by patiently-ridden horses, Arch Villain and Winning Story the only ones in the first 10 home that didn't start in at least mid-division; it was also a very rough race as things cramped up between the 3f and 2f poles so there were several not seen to best effect on the day, Natural Scenery about the worst affected.

NAKEETA hadn't won for almost 2 years but he'd put up some excellent efforts in defeat during that time, including a few at this track, so conditions were ideal, especially with a strong gallop to come off at this trip (stays very well) and with a good-value 5-lb claimer taking over in the saddle he produced a career best, the third winner in the last 4 years to have been ridden by an apprentice incidentally, and in a handicap as tight as this that includes a lot of exposed horses it really can make a difference; held up, travelled well, headway over 3f out, had to pick way through over 1f out, led last ½f and held on gamely; this was the most notable success yet for his trainer, Iain Jardine, who had the runner-up in this race 12 months ago, and it's a yard going places (already surpassed their previous best year for number of winners with over 3 months left in the calender).

FLYMETOTHESTARS is a most progressive sort, still only on his sixth lifetime start, this a first on turf, and under slightly different circumstances he could have 2 big handicap wins to his name, beaten less than a length in the Northumberland Plate 8 weeks ago and going even closer here, running another personal best anyway and really impressing with how quickly he made a big move from the back; steadied at the start, in rear, good progress on inner over 2f out, led approaching final 1f, headed last ½f, stuck to task but always just held close home; connections have adopted the patient approach so far, only a late confirmation because of concerns over fastish ground for him but Cup races will probably come into consideration either this autumn or next year, the level of form shown here good enough to compete, and he remains open to improvement.

NATURAL SCENERY proved better than ever as it is and was unlucky not to finish closer, having had nowhere to go for over a furlong; waited with, tanked along, headway 3f out, continually denied a run from over 2f out, finally switched into clear entering final 1f, stayed on strongly to be nearest at the finish; she's put up some big handicap performances and is clearly a filly with the ability to win a pattern race, though doubts raised about her resolution last time still hold true.

ARCH VILLAIN (IRE) ran a huge race after 13 months off, at least as good as ever and did best of those ridden close up; chased leaders, edged ahead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one paced.

MAGIC CIRCLE (IRE) was turned out quickly after winning here just 3 days earlier, the penalty picked up for that sneaking him in at the bottom of the weights, and he ran well despite giving the impression in the end that the quick turnaround told (didn't see race out fully); held up, progress on inner over 3f out, close up over 1f out, effort flattened out.

CLEVER COOKIE isn't as good as he used to be and lacks the pace he had, no longer such a smooth traveller, but he's still capable of smart form at the age of 9 and is holding his form well at present; held up, headway out wide over 2f out, short of room briefly, kept on.

WINNING STORY looks too high in the weights to be winning a big handicap but ran creditably in a first-time visor after 9 weeks off; chased leaders, travelled well, challenged out wide over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, no extra.

BATTERSEA who was a good fourth in last year's Ebor, had been kept fresh for the race, given another 4 months off since Ascot in May, and shaped better than the bare result, doing enough to say he's in form heading into an autumn campaign; held up, pushed along 4f out, keeping on when met some trouble 3f out, late headway.

WILD HACKED (USA) didn't get home over the 2f longer trip; raced wide, mid-field, took strong hold, headway over 3f out, challenged over 2f out, hampered over 1f out, weakened final 1f.

SEAMOUR (IRE) shaped better than the distance beaten suggests and looked back in form; mid-field, travelled well, smooth progress over 3f out, challenged over 2f out, still there when baulked over 1f out and then dropped away.

DUBKA is better judged on previous form as she raced closer to the pace than ideal and was caught up in the trouble too; prominent, ridden over 2f out, short of room over 1f out, weakened.

SCARLET DRAGON failed to stay the 2f longer trip; slowly into stride, in rear, headway on inner over 2f out, no extra over 1f out.

SOLDIER IN ACTION (FR) is on a stiff mark now and ran one of lesser races; prominent, pushed along over 3f out, weakening when bumped 2f out.

TOP TUG (IRE) can have a line put through this run; mid-division, ridden when badly hampered over 2f out, eased off.

IVAN GROZNY (FR) fit from jumps, was well held on first Flat start for over a year; helped force pace, raced freely, weakened over 2f out, did too much too soon.

ELIDOR after 7 weeks off, wasn't on a going day; raced off the pace, struggling 3f out, made no impression.

LORD YEATS won't find it easy from this mark in handicaps and probably did too much on the front end anyway; helped force pace, headed over 2f out, bumped soon after, eased off.

MALEFICENT QUEEN ran no sort of race in first-time cheekpieces; chased leaders, off the bridle before most, lost place over 3f out, first beaten.

STAR STORM (IRE) clearly wasn't 100% on the day; dropped out, headway 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, weakened approaching final 1f, pulled up, something not right.