THE Group 2 Close Brothers July Stakes lost much of its intrigue with the late withdrawal of Little Big Bear, and that left the way clear for Coventry Stakes runner-up Persian Force (Richard Hannon/Rossa Ryan) to run out a comfortable winner.

The well-backed 1/2 favourite was well away and quickened into a clear lead over a quarter of a mile out. Ryan then eased him on to the stands rail, and he went clear again to beat Coventry also-ran Show Respect (Brian Meehan/Sea Levey) by a length and a half, with Mysterious Night (Charlie Appleby/Will Buick) beaten three and a quarter lengths in third.

Brilliant

Hannon is clearly very taken by the winner, who was providing him with his fourth winner in the race, which include the brilliant Mehmas. “Persian Force has done the same as Mehmas in finishing second in the Coventry and then winning the July Stakes and this horse I do think will get seven furlongs. We don’t have to go there immediately but at the end of the year he will. His temperament is exemplary, and he behaves as very good two-year-olds do.”

Yibir leaves it late

YIBIR (Charlie Appleby/Will Buick) won the Bahrain Trophy here a year ago and showed his preference for the July Course over the Rowley Mile by getting back to winning ways in the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Close Brothers Stakes.

Breeders’ Cup Turf hero in the autumn, he was beaten in his first three races this year, raising doubts about his temperament, but there was no repeat of his slow-starting antics in the Man O’War Stakes here.

Although the big gelding took time to hit full stride, he eventually ran out a decisive winner, putting two and a quarter lengths between himself and Living Legend (Mark and Charlie Johnston/Ryan Moore) in the final climb.

Living Legend was conceding weight to the winner, having beaten him in the Jockey Club Stakes in April, so this doesn’t represent a full return to form for Yibir, although he did answer the question of whether he still had his competitive edge, which was in doubt after his last two performances.

He’s not in the King George, and Charlie Appleby explained that his main plan was a defence of his Breeders’ Cup Turf title.

“I’m pleased to get him back in front and hopefully now we’ll head to Saratoga for the Sword Dancer,” said the trainer. “Ultimately, we’ll be looking at the Breeders’ Cup but with Keeneland at that time of year we’ll have to keep an eye on the weather. One thing he does like is to have his feet rattling.”

DEAUVILLE Legend was just beaten in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, and he improved on that effort to give Danny Muscutt the biggest win of his career just four days after he was married, making his victory in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy all the more memorable.

Frustrating

It also ended a frustrating run for trainer James Ferguson, as the gelding held off the renewed challenge of Al Qareem (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee) who rallied bravely having made most of the running. Derby flop Walk Of Stars (Charlie Appleby/Will Buick) also finished with a rattle, and the 11/2 winner had just a head and a short head to spare in the most exciting finish of the day.

Frankie back

The much-discussed sabbatical taken by Frankie Dettori from the Clarehaven Stable of John and Thady Gosden was over almost as soon as it started, and Dettori was back in the winners’ enclosure when driving 11/10 favourite Mighty Ulysses to victory over Alflaila (Owen Burrows/Dane O’Neill) in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes.

Gosden Snr is keen to keep the winner at a mile and against his own age group, with the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood (a race won by Baaeed last year) next on his agenda.