ASCOT 14:30

All 6 ran. Fences: 17. Race Distance Adjustment: +46 yds

Time: 5m 26.6s Closing Sectional: (3.75f): 58.7s (98.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 110%, Betfair SP 100.2%

A distinctly substandard running of this Grade 2, and one with a major shock on the cards until Amore Alato unseated at the last with a 2-length lead and the race his to lose.

LE MERCUREY (FR) built a little on the form of his chasing debut win, up in grade, though was fortunate to follow up and will need to progress again to make an impact at the level he's likely to be contesting; waited with, took keen hold, smooth headway to chase leader thirteenth, ridden straight, keeping on in 2 lengths second but held when left clear last, ridden out.

THOMAS BROWN looked sure to progress, up in trip over fences, but he was relatively easy to back and the improvement was only marginal, a loss of concentration mid-race not helping and a return of headgear surely on the cards; pressed leader, led fourth, headed ninth, lost place twelfth, rallied before 2 out, held when left second last; may still do better over fences.

OUT SAM ran to a fairly useful level on chasing debut, though his inexperience found him out at this level; held up, not always fluent, headway when mistake twelfth, never a threat; likely to learn from outing and should reach similar level to that over hurdles.

KILLALA QUAY ran better than at Newbury but was still below the pick of his efforts, essentially just not good enough; led until third, remained prominent, labouring before 3 out.

JUNCTION FOURTEEN (IRE) was just not in the same form as on his 2 previous starts over fences, perhaps unsuited by being more patiently ridden; waited with, lost place tenth, mistake next, lost touch thirteenth.

AMORE ALATO looked a different proposition reverted to front-running tactics and was 2 lengths up and in control when he went at the last, his jumping until then much more convincing in the main than it had been at Catterick; disputed lead, went with enthusiasm, led ninth, pressed on from twelfth, not fluent 4 out, in control when unseated rider last; would have improved on even his best hurdles form had he completed and clearly has the ability to win races over fences.