HAYDOCK PARK 15:30 216g5q

All 8 ran. Race Distance Adjustment: +20 yds

Time: 1m 28.65s Closing Sectional: (3f): 34.4s (106.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 111%, Betfair SP 101.1%

A well-contested renewal of this Group 3, the first 4 all having been campaigned at times at a higher level and the winner benefiting from a near perfect ride from Kieran Shoemark to make all with the next 3 home all shaping with enough promise to think they could win at this level.

POGO (IRE) had excuses for below-par efforts abroad earlier in the year and bounced back to his best after 9 weeks off to win in pattern company for the first time, though was seen to maximum effect under an excellent tactical ride; led, pushed along under 3f out, closed down final 100 yds, just held on; he's a likeable sort but, with the penalty he picks up for this, this could prove his seasonal highlight.

LANEQASH is lightly raced for age, this just his seventh outing, and having been gelded since last year, he enhanced a good record fresh as he proved better than ever after 8 months off, arguably a little unlucky not to win having had to delay his run; slowly into stride, mid-field, travelled well, effort from 2f out, finished well, just failed; there's a good race to be won with him, either at this trip or 1m.

KINROSS couldn't follow up his win in this race in 2021 but still ran creditably after 7 months off, no reason to think he isn't as good as ever and set for another solid season in good company, giving the impression he was just flattening out late on having threatened to sweep right through; held up, ridden over 2f out, challenged inside final 1f, no extra only late on; he's evidently effective enough on good to firm ground but does handle soft well.

SUNRAY MAJOR had been really impressive when winning both starts at this trip last year and having not quite got home over 1m on his first 2 starts this year, showed improved form, going like the best horse at the weights given the amount of ground he had to make up; slowly into stride, dropped out, travelled well, ridden when met some trouble 2f out, headway inside final 1f, finished well, caught further back than ideal; this looks his trip for now and, still unexposed, ing that he's a half-brother to Kingman, there are pattern races to be won with him.

MISTY GREY (IRE) had something to find and ran to a similar level to last time, possible that this is close to his limit on turf; chased leader, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out.

HAPPY POWER (IRE) had ended a long losing run in a 3-runner affair at Leicester, that form obviously having limitations, but he wasn't in the same form anyway; mid-field, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out.

SPYCATCHER (IRE) produced a rare below-par effort, the step back up in trip not the issue; held up, pushed along 2f out, edged right over 1f out, not quicken.

CATCH TWENTYTWO (SAF) continues to show little since brought over from South Africa; held up, made no impression.