HAYDOCK PARK 15:40

Non Runners: WESTWOOD HOE. Race Distance Adjustment: -2 yds

Time: 1m 38.54s Closing Sectional: (3f): 36.8s (100.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 113%, Betfair SP 100.8%

Good form amongst the principals, 4 finishing clear, the second still thriving and yet the winning distance does no justice to Express Himself, who sacrificed a lot of ground at the start, the true pace a help rather than the reason he made it up and then some.

EXPRESS HIMSELF (IRE) looks set fair for some of the top-end handicaps later in the season, obviously needing to iron out the lingering slow starts, worse than ever here, but the developing ability is the overriding consideration with him, way ahead of his mark to pull off what he did, giving away 5l from the stalls, yet gradually working into it under an unpanicked Moore and getting all the way to the front ½f (despite traffic spots) without much pressure at all, given a couple of smacks then to make sure, the hard work very much done; strength and trajectory of his form makes him very much one to follow.

BIRDMAN (IRE) has done nothing but flourish in time with stable, a hat-trick already in the bag and running better still here, beaten only by something out of the ordinary in handicapping terms, Birdman somewhat flattered to run him so close but doing everything right on his part, finding all the time.

SOUND ADVICE running consistently well, if anything raising the bar a bit more here, up against it with the first 2 in handicapping terms, getting first run on them to an extent (led on bridle over 2f out) but sticking to the task well, outpointed last 100 yds; very effective front-runner when the opportunity comes (didn't here).

SIMPLY SHINING (IRE) had Hanagan up this time and bounced back from Ascot, at the same time highlighting her predicament from new mark, no better than fourth despite running right up to her rating, every chance over 1f out, one paced.

DORNOCH (USA) tried in cheekpieces after an unconvincing response at Newcastle but did worse still, looking slow when previous form shows he isn't, so perhaps it's in the mind with him for now, disappointing in Britain so far.

NAVAJO CHIEF was unlikely to do it here if he didn't on reappearance given his record fresh, duly took a backward step from Chester, going on at halfway but already done with when squeezed 2f out.

CHOSEN CHARACTER (IRE) has excusably lost something in consistency as he's got older, but also mostly kept to conditions not near so fast as this nowadays, bang there until over 1f out but folding tamely.

PINTURA almost certainly needs easier ground than this, as it was for encouraging start for yard at Ayr, never comfortable under these conditions, eased right off.