Another surprisingly close finish at Sandown - will the Solario work out as well as the Eclipse did?
It was a bit like watching the Eclipse again when Sandown staged the Solario on Saturday. The hot favourite prevailed and there was never a really anxious moment but he got closed down in the dying strides by a much less fancied rival, giving rise to doubts about the extent of what had been achieved.
Is there something about that uphill finish at Sandown that brings horses together, condensing margins that would otherwise have been wider? Anyway, the Eclipse form has worked out very tidily, City Of Troy following up in a deep Juddmonte International, while Al Riffa bagged a Group 1 in Germany next time.
Should we have as much faith in the Solario disputants? The winner Field Of Gold races with pleasing enthusiasm and pulled quickly clear of his rivals after changing his lead fore with 100 yards to go.
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