Severance

Severance ran well to finish second in the 12-furlong handicap.

Mick Channon's horse raced without cover from his outside draw in stall 11 through the early stages of the race, up on the outside as they rounded the turn, and he was keener than ideal initially. He did settle a little better when they straightened up, he travelled well on the near side of the field, and he made nice progress to join the front rank, still travelling well, on the run to the three-furlong marker. He picked up well when Rob Hornby asked him to at the two-furlong pole too and, while he got the better of favourite Edinburgh Castle quite quickly, he couldn't hold the challenge of Holy Kingdom, who had travelled well in behind and challenged on the run into the Dip. Even so, the first two pulled nicely clear, and it was a fine run by Severance in defeat.

This was the Nathaniel gelding's first run since he was well beaten in a 10-furlong handicap at Newmarket on soft ground in November. His only previous run on fast ground was in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last July, when he finished last of the nine runners. All his best runs had been on easy ground, but he proved here that he could operate on fast ground too. He is a keen-going sort, he has worn a hood for his entire racing career so far, but he could improve from this, his first run since a gelding operation and, potentially with the freshness run out of him, he could settle better next time. A 3lb hike was fair.

Newmarket, 5^th June 2020

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