Led, steadied tempo approaching halfway, quickened over 3f out, joined over 1f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, rallied, always just held tchd 7/1
Restless in stalls and slowly into stride, raced keenly, held up in last pair, headway over 2f out, went 3rd inside final 2f, no chance with leading duo op 8/1
Switched left start, pulled hard, held up disputing 4th, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, soon outpaced, kept on again into 4th towards finish op 9/2
Hamada (5/2), Tuff Rock (9/2), Banksea (9/2), Now Children (5/1), Crowned Eagle (15/2), Contango (15/2), Grandee (8/1), Island Brave (12/1)
A competitive opener to the Dante meeting in which CROWNED EAGLE looks capable of running well, particularly if granted an uncontested lead. Hamada is respected after a winning return at Wolverhampton last month. Island Brave has been running well on all-weather surfaces this winter and not out of this if he's as effective on turf.