Rest of Newmarket review: Al Aasy claims victory in the Bahrain Trophy Stakes as Progressive Rating wins again

Value Bet strikes

Matt Brocklebank hit the target as Value Bet selection Progressive Rating (40/1) toughed it out well to land the bet365 Handicap.

Always handily positioned under Callum Shepherd, the improving three-year-old was in front with a furlong to run and was always doing enough to hold off Exceptional, who laid down a stern challenge in second, by half a length.

Dancin Inthestreet finished back in third, ahead of Lexington Dash.

Winning trainer William Knight said: "We always thought he was quite smart last year. He had a hiccup earlier in the year and I thought he would be a bit short today.

"He coped with the ground really well. He looks like he is a six-furlong horse. I hope he is a stakes horse in the making. He won his last start at Kempton impressively. He should come on a lot for the race."

Front-running tactics worked wonders for the Karl Burke-trained She's So Nice who went one better than on her debut at Thirsk to collect the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes by half a length.

Kelly Burke, daughter of the winning trainer, said of the 9/4 favourite: "She is a nice filly and is a half-sister to The Mackem Bullet. She has got her quirks and she can be a little temperamental. She goes well at home and we were expecting a good run.

"I think we will probably seek some black type now and that is probably the route we will go."

Elsewhere on the card, Chairmanoftheboard (6/1) claimed first prize in the Price Promise At bet365 Handicap while Bear Force (7/1) helped form part of a treble for jockey William Buick when winning the Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap.

Buick was also successful aboard Al Suhail and Tactical.

Al Aasy breezes to Bahrain Trophy victory

Al Aasy is beginning to live up to the high regard in which he is held by William Haggas, following a smooth success in the Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket.

The son of Sea The Stars was beaten on his first two outings but hinted at his ability when winning a novice race last time out by 10 lengths.

He was taking a big step up in class for this Group Three but proved well up to it as he took up the running on the bridle more than a furlong out for Jim Crowley.

Ryan Moore set out to make all on the favourite Dawn Rising, only to be taken on first by Sound Of Cannons and then Miss Yoda before - having seen them off - he was brushed aside by Al Aasy (3-1).

On hitting the front Al Aasy began to idle as Dawn Rising stuck to his task well, but he was beaten by a length and three-quarters.

The winner was introduced into the betting for the St Leger at 8-1 by Betfair.

Crowley said: "I was impressed. We've always held him in high regard, but I was very disappointed with his first start on the Rowley Mile course - he just didn't run a race.

"Obviously he backed up quickly and won, and then he's taken another step forward today and won well.

"He definitely stays but he's not a slow horse, he's always shown pace. If they wanted to go for the Leger, I'm pretty sure he'd stay.

"I just think he's improving all the time. He's a big horse and hopefully he'll keep on improving."

Haggas' wife and assistant Maureen, said: "William has always loved him. He is a beautiful horse. He is bred to be a good horse.

"He ran really well first time last year, and we were really disappointed when he went to Newmarket first time this year and ran like he did. I don't know why he did - maybe he was just a bit rusty.

"He did what he did last time, beating probably not a lot, but he is going in the right direction -which is great. He is improving and learning. When he won last time, this is where William wanted to come.

"He was our Derby horse -and when William showed him to Sheikh Hamdan (owner) as a yearling he said 'this is the Derby horse'. He just wasn't experienced enough to go for something like that.

"Hopefully he will be here next year, and he will be a stronger horse again. I think he will be better on faster ground, because most Sea The Stars want faster ground. He is not a slow horse, so I think a strong-run mile and a half would be ideal for him."

Richard Hills, racing manager for the owner, said: "It was only a novice he won last time, but he won it well .

"His work has always been really good. You have to look at him realistically as a Leger horse. I'd say William would be looking at York (for the Voltigeur), then seeing where he is."

Al Suhail oozes class in Cecil cruise

Al Suhail was right back to his best when running out an impressive winner of the Bahrain International Sir Henry Cecil Stakes.

The Dubawi colt wasn't without his supporters when pitched into the 2000 Guineas last month and though disappointing on that occasion, he set the record straight here with a smooth success for trainer Charlie Appleby.

As is his way, Al Suhail (5/2) was inclined to take a grip early on but he was afforded a strong pace to chase and jockey Wiliam Buick was happy to bide his time as the race played out in front of him.

Still travelling strongly with two furlongs to run, Al Suhail was given the office when things opened up beautifully for him and he fairly scampered clear in the closing stages to record a facile victory.

Mystery Power chased hard in second but he was six lengths in arrears at the line with Ropey Guest filling the places back in third.

Appleby said: "This horse was pleasing us before the Guineas and his homework has always been electric. The challenge with him is himself, as we know with the family.

"In the Guineas he was loaded up early and it was a big field. We intended to try to ride him to come. James said he hit the lids and could never get him back. After three furlongs, to be honest, his race was run and we had to put a line through that.

"We just felt if this horse keeps it together, he has plenty of ability there. The ground was there to suit him today. The more rain that came, the more I felt it was going to enhance his chances.

"Hopefully this will be a nice experience for him coming down the road and doing it as easy as that. He has got plenty of confidence - it is just about channelling it in the right direction."

Although Al Suhail was given a quote of 16-1 by Sky Bet for the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, a step back up to Group One company might be put on hold for the time being.

Appleby added: "His pedigree said maybe we should be stepping up in trip. I did have him entered in the Dante and when I saw the ground had changed this morning from good to firm to good to soft, I was kicking myself I hadn't gone down that route. The only thing that has made me feel a bit better is that William has said he is a miler.

"He has only got a Listed win behind him at the end of the day. I could maybe take a softer route with him, but I have no targets at the moment. There are plenty of options at the lower level for him and we will maybe try to work back from something a bit punchy."

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