True Story can bloom in Rose Of Lancaster

True Story is fancied to take advantage of a drop in class and get back of winning ways in the Group 3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock today (2.55).
The Saeed bin Suroor trained colt looked potentially top class on his return to action in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket when sauntering clear to win by seven lengths from Obliterator.

The son of Manduro pulled hard in the early stages before eventually settling in midfield, and after being ridden to lead approaching the final furlong strode clear up the hill to win going away.

True Story then finished a close-up third in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York, before running a highly creditable race to finish seventh of 16 to Australia in the Group 1 Investec Derby at Epsom.

The three-year-old was also far from disgraced when last seen in action in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, staying on to be beaten four lengths into fifth behind Mukhadram having not been ideally positioned in a slowly run race.

The signicant drop in grade this afternoon should see True Story in a far better light, and with Kieren Fallon in the saddle this looks a nice opportunity for him to bag a valuable prize.

The obvious danger is the Sir Michal Stoute trained Hillstar, who is also dropping in class.
The colt was a progressive sort last season, starting life off in handicaps before landing the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in good style from Battle of Marengo.

The son of Danehill Dancer then ran a cracker to finish a staying on third to Novelist in the Group 1 King George.
Although Hillstar was well beaten on his return to action this season in the Dubai World Cup, he has since finished runner-up on three occasions and worked his way back to form.

The four-year-old ran a blinder on his penultimate start when chasing home stable companion Telescope in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, and got beat just a neck by Cavalryman in the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the month.
That is rock solid form, and entiltes Hillstar to the utmost respect despite having to concede 9lbs to True Story.