Top 40 winner Pinhole ready for a return to Pattern company

Pinhole proved too strong for his four opponents on his handicap debut at Ascot on Friday scoring by five and a half lengths. Sporting cheekpieces for the first time and dropping back to a mile and a half, Rossa Ryan's mount looked favourably treated off a mark of 98 and took full advantage of his age concession against older rivals. Ralph Beckett's charge had been highly tried during the first half of the season contesting the Group 3 Chester Vase and Group 2 Queens Vase at Royal Ascot. Always going well, he drew clear with Assail early in the homestraight before soon stretching away from David Simcock's runner. His jockey feels there is plenty of improvement to come and didn't rule out the possibility of trying a mile and six again in the future. One would imagine a return to Pattern company will be on the agenda next time.