'It would be no surprise to see him progress out of the handicap ranks'

Our analysts pick out six horses who caught their eye last week. Members can view the race replays and add these horses to their Racing Post Tracker.

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Vanitas
Fourth, Catterick, Wednesday

Hard-luck stories are part and parcel of racing around the tight turns of Catterick's round track and Vanitas fell firmly into the 'unlucky' category after a troubled passage in the 6f fillies' handicap.

The David O'Meara-trained three-year-old, who was 6lb higher than when scoring on her turf debut on good ground at Pontefract, seemed to have no problems with the softer surface but she was continuously denied racing room throughout the last quarter-mile.

Given she wasn't beaten far, it is reasonable to assume she would have maintained her unbeaten record on turf had she got the gaps at the right time and she's capable of making amends in similar company in the coming weeks. [Richard Young]

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Royal Scimitar
Fourth, Newmarket, Thursday

Royal Scimitar pulled clear of his group on the stands' side in this competitive 6f handicap and will be very much of interest in similar company in the coming weeks.

The plan to turn this horse into a miler wasn't a successful one but the drop back to sprinting in second-time cheekpieces saw him post a better performance than anything he'd previously achieved when beaten narrowly by three horses who raced in the smaller far-side bunch.

Royal Scimitar is probably a fair bit better than this bare result suggests and, given Clive Cox is a dab hand with sprinters, he should be able to make amends granted similarly quick ground. [Richard Young]

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Aaddeey
Seventh, York, Saturday

Aaddeey's best performance was when thrashing subsequent Doncaster winner Rodrigo Diaz over a mile and a half at Newmarket on good ground in May and the four-year-old looks ready for the return to that trip if his staying-on seventh in the competitive John Smith's Cup at York last weekend is anything to go by.

He made up a fair bit of ground in the last quarter-mile against the far rail (away from the main action in the centre) to get within around five lengths of Johnny Drama, who was much handier placed in a tactical race that favoured those up with the pace.

A longer trip and a better overall gallop will play to Aaddeey's strengths and he is the type to win a decent handicap in the near future. [Richard Young]

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Bouquet
Third, Newmarket, Saturday

Bound, the dam of Bouquet, was a 1m2f Listed winner who was sold for 2.2 million guineas while carrying this filly.

Bouquet is Bound's first foal and she shaped well in what was a useful maiden on her debut. She showed her inexperience with a slow start and needed early encouragement before finishing well without her rider going for the whip. She was beaten a length and a quarter in third but might have finished second had she not run into traffic late on.

John Gosden's newcomer earned the "promising" tag in her close-up comment and is potentially smart. [Ron Wood]

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Creative Force
Fifth, Newmarket, Saturday

Creative Force came into the July Cup having won all of his four races in 2021, but his latest victory had been gained over a stiff 7f on soft ground in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and he found the contrasting test of the July Cup just a bit too sharp.

However, Charlie Appleby's runner was keeping on at the line and was beaten just two lengths into fifth, less than a length behind runner-up Dragon Symbol.

Creative Force: one to take out of the July CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

The three-year-old could make his mark at the top level back on slower going and/or over an extra furlong. Perhaps the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in October will be his race. [Ron Wood]

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Second, Ascot, Saturday

Dhushan was a beaten favourite at Ascot, falling short in his hat-trick bid, but he still showed enough to enhance his future prospects.

The lightly raced three-year-old found himself too far back in a steadily run race and, despite coming home strongly, he could not quite get up in time, finishing a half-a-length second behind First Light in a quality handicap.

He looks every inch a Melrose Handicap type, with the step up to 1m6f almost certainly going to be in his favour, and it would be no surprise to see him progress out of the handicap ranks at some stage. [Mark Brown]

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Read more of the week's top stories:

What the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions will mean for racing and crowds

Crucial month for Godolphin as Charlie Appleby shuffles his three-year-old pack

What's on this week: Irish Oaks and Super Sprint spearhead a brilliant weekend

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