Big clash fails to materialise as 'agitated' Battaash finishes fourth

After promising so much, the big showdown turned out not to be much of a contest, either in the betting ring or in the race itself.

Battaash actually shaded Lady Aurelia for Coolmore Nunthorpe favouritism with some firms in the morning and he still did so an hour before the race, only to drift out to 11-4 by the off as money poured in for the 10-11 market leader.

That reflected a decidedly uneasy build up to the Group 1 sprint, as the three-year-old – who was described as "a bull in a china shop" in his younger, temperamental days by trainer Charlie Hills – was notably unsettled at the start and took a lot of persuading to load.

The impressive Sandown and Goodwood winner got away on terms and showed up well for a long way under Jim Crowley, but he came under pressure well over a furlong out and passed the post in fourth, more than five lengths behind the winner Marsha.

"He got a bit agitated down at the start," said Hills. "He probably got there a little too soon and we might look at that next time. Then they had to manhandle him into the stalls and he got a bit upset there.

"I think maybe the occasion got to him. He had actually got a bit agitated when we saddled him up. Plenty of favourites have got beaten here.

"At one stage it looked as though he was going to run a big race. Jim said he got taken on at halfway, they were going plenty quick enough, and it set him alight a bit. We'll get him home and aim him for the Abbaye."

Hills added: "The winner is a very good horse and has won two Group 1s now but we did beat her last time at Goodwood."

Stablemate Cotai Glory belied his 50-1 starting price to finish third under Silvestre de Sousa and Hills said: "He ran a great race, he was fourth in it last year as well.

"There's talk he may go to stud in New Zealand in time. We'll speak to the owners and see what we're going to do."

Nunthorpe Stakes result and analysis