ASCOT 17:00

Non Runners: KNIGHT OWL.

Time: 1m 46.42s Closing Sectional: (3.55f): 45.4s (104%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 115%, Betfair SP 102.4%

A useful handicap that looks solid rather than strong form for the grade, the winner chased home by one who is averagely weighted and one with plenty of miles on the clock, all the market principals below form and/or not seen to best effect further back.

LEADER WRITER (FR) hasn't taken long to get back up to speed for current yard, building on the promise he showed here (round course) last time and running as well as he's ever done to score in ready fashion; mid-field, travelled well, loomed up under 2f out, led final 1f, forged clear; future prospects depend on the handicapper.

STORM AHEAD (IRE) back under a fully-fledged rider and in first-time cheekpieces after 5 weeks off, got back on track from a couple of pounds out of the weights, running as well as he's ever done and underlining his effectiveness on soft ground; mid-division, pushed along under 3f out, stayed on to lead 1f out, headed soon after, kept on, no match for winner; handicapper is proving slow to relent, though.

BIG BAZ (IRE) ran creditably from a slipping mark, back in form after a mid-season blip; prominent, pushed along 2f out, kept on; closing in on 2 years without a win and not the force he once was, but mark is starting to reflect that so not one to write off.

AFAAK after 8 weeks off, ran creditably when taking into account the trouble he encountered; held up, had to wait for gap over 2f out then lacked the acceleration to go through the split when it came soon after, things closing up around him again until switched final 1f and doing some good late work; hasn't had the rub of the green a couple of times since winning strong race at Doncaster and the impression remains that he's on a workable mark when everything drops right, also worth a try over further than 1m on this evidence.

TRUTH OR DARE back on testing ground, did enough to show he's back in good heart, shaping better than the distance beaten suggests; held up, travelled well, rapid headway 2f out, every chance over 1f out, not sustain effort, paying the price for that move into contention.

SACRED ACT on first outing since leaving John Gosden after 5 months off, has gone well fresh in the past but underperformed; chased leaders, loomed up 2f out, effort over 1f out, weakened; clearly hard to train and sales price of 15,000 gns is low for a horse of his ability, and it could be that he's not quite the force of old.

EAGLE CREEK (IRE) wasn't in the same form as last time, acknowledging front-running tactics are hard to pull off over this C&D; led, shaken up 2f out, headed around 1f out, weakened; now seems unlikely to quite live up to considerable early promise but maybe worth another try on all-weather, his sole success having come on that surface.

BANKSEA after 11 weeks off and on softer ground than previously, proved to be a disappointment and his season looks in danger of tailing off after a good start; patiently ridden, pushed along over 2f out, not quicken.

EMELL ran poorly after 4 months off; close up, took keen hold, struggling soon after halfway, dropped away; something to prove at present.

SECRET ART (IRE) failed to build on the promise of last couple of runs; handy, ridden under 3f out, dropped away from 2f out, eased.

CAPTAIN CAT (IRE) offered little after 6 months off; awkward leaving stalls, in rear, never a threat.