Papal Bull, only a length and a half behind Feilden runner-up Olympian Odyssey on their debuts here over an inadequate 7f last year, left the strong impression that he can go on to better things, as he was still green when asked to win his race and when hitting the front, but was only nudged out to win decisively, having shown a fair turn of foot. Much will depend on how the handicapper reacts but he looks the sort who can make his mark at a higher level.
Linas Selection gradually crossed over from his high draw to set the steady tempo and he looked to be enjoying bouncing off this ground. He looked the likely winner as he had the others being pushed along while his rider was still waiting to go for home until approaching the final furlong. He cleared away from the rest impressively enough but probably caught a good one here. The form of his maidens before his win have been franked and he would not have been seen to best effect on rain-softened ground in some of them.
Fiddlers Wood, fit from the AW, has probably overperformed here off what already looked a high mark, 8lb higher than his AW one. He again did not look a stout stayer at this trip, weakening in the final furlong.
Royal Reservation tracked the pace but was not threatening to land a blow when receiving a bump, but Aamaaq and Permanent Way were very disappointing, while Rayhani looked to get upset mid-race and failed to run his race. He has serious questions to answer now, having run poorly on his last run in October when soft ground was put forward as the excuse.(BJ)
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