A competitive affair, featuring a host of Hunt Cup entries. It paid to race handily, as the pace wasn't strong and very few got seriously involved. Nevertheless, the time was around a second quicker than that taken by Echelon in the opener.

HINTERLAND was the least exposed in the field, having won the first two of just three starts in a career that started late, and he looked on a decent mark of 94 for his reappearance, for which he was well touted. He had an outside draw to overcome, but having proved difficult to load he jumped straight out into a handy position and came across to race on the heels of front-running Shot To Fame. It was only inside the final furlong that he mastered Shot To Fame, and he should be effective over further.

The ten-furlong Wolferton Stakes is his likely Royal Ascot target as he incurs a 5lb penalty for the Hunt Cup, in which connections also have the fancied Notability.

Skidrow was never too far away, racing on the rail, and he stuck on well. He has a HuntCup entry, as do the next three home.

Shot To Fame, a former Group 3 winner who had caught the eye under a hold-up ride at Chester, got an easy lead from stall 1, and he was still left alone when he steadied it up. Kicking on rounding the turn, itlooked for a moment halfway up the straight as if he might have stolen it, but he was coming to the end of his tether at the furlong marker. He ought to be placed to advantage off this sort of mark at some stage, but the straight mile at Royal Ascot wouldn't necessarily suit.

Akona Matata has been earmarked for the Hunt Cup and ran a satisfactory trial. The straight mile won't be a problem, but on this evidence he is probably a shade high in the handicap now.

Wavertree Warriorcame here in great form, and he stayed on into a respectable firth, despite having been inclined to hang in towards the inside.

Krugerrand was another who looked uncomfortable on the course, but he was running on too. He looks ready to go close back on a flatter track.

Humble Opinion ran okay but the handicapper has his measure at the moment. Granston was keen under a hold-up ride. So too, and much more so, was last week's impressive Goodwood winner Trafalgar Square, who took a strong hold at the back of the field and didn't enjoy much luck in running. The vet reported he was injured on his off fore.*James Doyle reported that Wavertree Warrior was unsuited by the track. [GD]

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