York Ebor Festival 2015: Melrose Stakes preview (14.35)

Al looked a handicapper to keep on side when bolting up last time out and can defy a rise in the weights to land the 1m 6f Melrose Stakes at York (14.35), on the final day of the Ebor Festival.

The Luca Cumani trained colt shaped with promise in two runs as a juvenile, finishing third at Kempton and a tenderly handled fourth behind subsequent Investec Derby and Coral-Eclipse winner Golden Horn at Nottingham.

Al then shaped as if badly needing the run when finishing well down the field in a 1m maiden at Windsor on seasonal reappearance, but like many from the yard looked the type who was being brought along steadily with handicaps in mind.

The three-year-old duly put in a much improved effort on debut in that sphere when runner-up at Windsor, before taking his form to a new level when spreadeagling a 10-runner field in a 1m 4f contest at Newmarket.

After being held-up at the rear, Al made stealthy headway four from home before surging clear approaching the final furlong to win going away by seven lengths despite hanging left.

It was a most taking performance, and although now 12lb higher in the weights he would not got into this contest without the steep rise.

To me it looks as if Cumani has plotted up Al for the race, and the Newmarket handler has a good record in it having saddled two winners in the last 10 runnings.

Al also remains unexposed and open to further improvement and looks the type who will relish the step up to 1m 6f.

There are plenty of dangers in a wide open affair, and Hernandoshideaway and No Never command plenty of respect.

The former is a progressive sort trained by Michael Dods who after finishing second on his first two starts this season scored in good style last time out over 1m 4f at Pontefract when readily beating Penhill by 1 1/2 lengths.