Timeform Eyecatcher of the day

This six-runner nursery was a far less competitive affair than the Windsor Castle Stakes which Distant shot played at Ascot last month and he showed much more like his prime form on that occasion, but has to be considered an unlucky loser.

After going the pace, he failed to clear a run of less than two furlongs just as eventual winner Blatant made his move. Switched on the approach to the final furlong, Far Shot ran but fell through a neck at the line with the winner all to hang on.

Winner at Yarmouth on his debut just a week before finishing on the pitch at Royal Ascot, John & Thady Gosden-trained Far Shot can’t climb much, if at all, for this effort and looks sure to get clearing into another nursery before long.

Other choice was trying six furlongs for only the second time and formed well in this filly contest, not least because she missed the break after fussing in the stalls. Held back as a result, she chased the leaders over a yard and then caught the eye with her finishing effort as she stayed in the final fifty yards under careful handling for fourth place behind Razeyna.

Coached by Kevin Ryan, Alia Choice had started at Chelmsford earlier in the year and hadn’t had bad form on her previous start either, when she was third at Musselburgh after leaving an unpromising position and reportedly losing a shoe.

Descended from Lowther winner Queen Kindly and a fast line of fillies, Alia Choice has the pedigree to think there is more to come from her.

Despite failing to beat a rival in her last two starts, it seemed significant that Grant Kill’s roster fortuitous star was sent favorite for her nursery debut. She duly showed her early form by finishing a length second behind another of the fanciest runners Don’t Fight It.

After running free in contact, Fortuitous Star made her effort two furlongs and got up on the line to come out on top in a three-way finish for second place. Slowly on her first starts, Fortuitous Star seems to be learning with every run and it’s possible there’s a little more to come from this Starspangledbanner daughter, including at six furlongs, the distance at which she debuted.

Pink Crystal was kicked out of the 7/4 favorite making his handicap debut for William Haggas in the three-year contest. However, it looked a little rusty on its first run for six months while still looking like more rigorous testing might be okay.

Running at the back and rounding the home corner, Pink Crystal was only able to progress late in a race at a modest pace to take third place, two and a quarter lengths behind the winner Nomasee.

It was Pink Crystal’s first start since winning a maiden at Lingfield in early January, so she’s entitled to have enjoyed the outing. She had been placed in all three of her starts as a two-year-old, including when she was second to her now smart stablemate Tiber Flow. On a useful winner over seven furlongs, Pink Crystal will stay that far herself and should be able to earn a handicap from her current mark. She hasn’t run on the grass yet.

It was a pretty useful sprint handicap that was easily the least exposed horse in the field, although call me ginger also well trained in racing away from the main group.

He had started winning again over the course and distance the previous time around and left looking like he was still in top form, pushed shortly after halfway but conceding the first set on the pair that finished ahead of him.

That mark is not beyond him, winning the Bronze Cup at Ayr last season after all, and he will remain a horse to be positive next time around.

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