HUKUM (122) posted a faster time figure than Tuesday in the more strongly run Group 1 Coronation Cup, although was slower through the closing stages despite pulling well clear of his field.

The formative stages of the race were muddling as William Buick attempted to gain an easy lead on Manobo, which was not the way Frankie Dettori saw events playing out on last year’s winner Pyledriver (116). However, Hukum and Jim Crowley were soon in close attendance.

The pair set down for a duel entering the straight, although it soon became clear Hukum was in control and, with Crowley nursing the son of Sea The Stars to the front entering the final furlong, they were soon away to a four-and-a-quarter-length victory and a closing sectional of 34.00secs.

The winner suffered an injury and Pyledriver ran below his time-figure of last year by some way and was being closed on again by High Definition (116) at the line having looked likely to finish clear of Aidan O’Brien’s colt who still must convince me he can operate at this level.

Handicaps

I will highlight both older-horse handicaps on Friday’s card as they are likely to produce plenty of winners down the line with Roger Varian’s Royal Champion (116+) impressing the most on the clock.

After finishing an enormous 29 lengths behind Chindit, the son of Shamardal was gelded and as a result looked every inch the horse he was touted as being by his astute handler last season. The four-year-old’s time-figure was only beaten by Hukum on the day and, under little more than hands and heels from Andrea Atzeni, he posted a closing sectional of 33.81secs.

The Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum owned-gelding has entries in both the Royal Hunt Cup and the John Smith’s Cup on his calendar, with the last named the more suitable target in my opinion.

Soto Sizzler (113) enhanced his Epsom record still further in second and posted an almost identical sectional. David Menuisier’s gelding has still to finish outside of the first two in six runs at the Surrey track.

Convincing

Totally Charming (112+) carried his progressive all-weather form onto the turf to win the World Pool Handicap in convincing fashion.

William Buick always looked to have plenty of horse beneath him as he explored most of the Epsom straight for the best gap to complete his closing sectional of 34.00secs.

The closers from the rear who caught the eye visually and on the clock were Fantastic Fox (109+), another Roger Varian runner to recently have been gelded, stopped the clock at 33.74secs and La Trinidad (108+) clocked 33.92secs despite not having the smoothest passage. He should be noted back at his beloved York.