Curtain Call held up, headway 3f out, led over 1f out, shaken up and ran on well

Drill Sergeant chased leader, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace approaching final furlong

Bold Choice led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra

The went a good pace in this race and the result was as the formbook would have suggested with CURTAIN CALL coming through his first Derby test in good style. He has looked fit enough for his return although his trainer had obviously left something to work on and he was soon held up in the behind his two rivals and just had to be shaken up well over two furlongs out to take interest. Once the message had been received he picked up impressively and was cruising on the bit when sent to the front over afurlong out. He quickened up and went clear but he really only did what he was entitled to, having 15lb and 14lb in hand of his opponents. He is likely to take in his trainer’s favoured route to Epsom by going for the Lingfield Derby Trial next but that is likely to tell us a lot more about the Beresford Stakes winner and the bookmaker reaction to cut him to 7-1 (from generally 10-1) looked a bit of an over-reaction granted the task that faced him here.

Bold Choice had won well over course and distance last week, but again, that was only a maiden, and he looked to test the race fitness of the winner as he set a decent gallop up front. He was swamped over a furlong out and is another who can give better indication of the winner’s performance when running in handicap company. [TE]

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