Three Weekend Eyecatchers - 22/07/19

Withhold proved once again to trainer Roger Charlton that his best asset is the ability to go well fresh first time out of the season, and win a top handicap for Tony Bloom.

Making his first start since a poor show in Australia back in October, the six-year-old won two top handicaps back in 2018 and remained on a fair mark.

He headed to the Marsh Cup at Newbury to open his account, and won having made virtually all of the running under jockey Jason Watson.

Some big targets lie ahead, and connections may even fancy a crack to hunt down star stayer Stradivarius.

Romanised deservedly got his head in front for the first time since season in the Group Two Paddy Power Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh.

Last year's Guineas hero has been running with much credit at the top level this season, finishing just outside the placings in the Lockinge and the Queen Anne.

He did not get the rub of the green at Royal Ascot but did fly home under Billy Lee late on in the day, and the drop to seven certainly saw the return trip to the winners enclosure.

The four-year-old beat the likes of Hey Gaman - unbeaten this year into second, and John Quinn's Safe Voyage who was far from disgraced.

The Pink'n had some decent flat form in his locker from the past, and was making his first appearance over jumps in the Brendon Soper Memorial Juvenile Hurdle at Newton Abbot on Sunday.

On paper, he looked the most interesting newcomer in the field having stumped up a mark of 79 following his against-odds win in a Novice Stakes at Goodwood in October.

Seamus Mullins gave him a crack over timber, and he shocked Dan Skelton's short price favourite Must See The Doc when running on well in the closing stages.

Showed his jumping inexperience at times, but his raw speed completed the job.