Ratings Update: Solario Stakes reaction

Tony McFadden provides the Timeform ratings reaction following the Solario Stakes at Sandown.

There are some stellar names on the roll of honour for the Solario Stakes, including Kingman, Masar and Too Darn Hot who all went on to strike at Group 1 level. However, the latest edition, which was run at a steady gallop and produced a close finish, is not rated as being an up-to-scratch renewal. In fact, Aktabantay (98), who scored in 2014, is the only winner in the last decade rated lower than Aablan (99p from 88p).

That's not to say Aablan isn't without potential, however, after he showed improved form to follow up his debut victory at Newmarket. Aablan, who was sent off a well-backed 7/4 favourite, still showed signs of greenness after being pushed along over two furlongs out, but he stayed on well inside the final furlong and knuckled down encouragingly to prevail by a neck from Inishfallen (98 from 90), the most experienced runner in the line-up.

Aablan is likely to learn from the experience and will have no problem staying a mile (he's by Dubawi and out of the smart Promising Run who won at Group 2 level over nine furlongs). He was a third winner of the race for Charlie Appleby, who struck previously with Masar and Silver Knott, and was providing the yard with a first victory in a two-year-old pattern race this season.

Arguably the best long-term prospect from the race is fourth-placed Starlore (95p from 92p). He quickened up best and looked the likely winner when challenging over a furlong out but failed to sustain the effort and faltered close home, not dissimilar to as on debut when he just lasted home. He is still immature and remains with potential to do better.

There was a notable two-year-old performance earlier in the week as Task Force (99p from 90p) won the listed Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy in the style of one destined to make a big impact in Group company. Sent off a well-backed 11/8 favourite on the back of a stylish debut success against a subsequent winner at Salisbury, Task Force travelled well but showed his inexperience when asked for his effort and didn't look completely at ease on the undulating track, hanging to his right. That didn't stop him from making good headway, however, and he was well on top by the time they passed the line, scoring by a length and a quarter with something to spare. He could have pulled out more had it been required and this exceptionally well-bred colt - by Frankel out of 1000 Guineas winner Special Duty - will be well worth his place at a higher level.

The Timeform Large P, a symbol that denotes a horse is likely capable of much better form, was awarded to two debut winners last week: Local Hero (90P) at Kempton and Los Angeles (89P) at Tipperary. They are both exciting prospects and ones to note.

Local Hero is trained by Richard Hannon whose Heredia (remains 112) didn't need to improve on the form of her listed win at Haydock to land the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes at Sandown on Saturday, though she deserves credit for quickening up well from the rear in a steadily-run race.

Beverley staged one of its feature races of the season on Saturday, the Beverley Bullet, and it was won by Kerdos (115 from 109) who produced his best effort yet to get up close home and win by half a length. That was a first victory of the season for Kerdos but he had run some good races in defeat, including when narrowly denied in the Palace of Holyrood House Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he doesn't have many miles on the clock for a sprinter so retains the potential to make a better four-year-old next term. The quality of the Beverley Bullet was well up to standard.

British raiders had won the past two editions of the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp with Baaeed and Dreamloper but, surprisingly, the latest edition was an all-French affair in which Sauterne (121 from 114) showed improved form to get the better of Big Rock (remain 123) who had to settle for second in another Group 1. Big Rock was an odds-on favourite on the back of runner-up efforts in the French Derby and Prix Jacques le Marois but Sauterne, who has been thriving on her racing, found plenty inside the final furlong to surge to a one-length success. She's a tough mare and has been on the go since making her debut at Deauville in November, this her tenth start since that day.