Advancing made a pleasing start to his handicap career with a battling third at Sandown.
Advancing has been gelded since his last run in March and made his start in handicap company with a pair of cheekpieces to keep him company.
Held up by jockey Jonny Peate, the son of Lope De Vega inched forward during the middle of the ten-furlong contest and finished strongly but it was never quite enough.
Advancing was just under six lengths off winner and 10-11 favourite Dangerman, with that horse’s Godolphin stablemate Desert Shadow in second.
Peate reported that Advancing slightly hung right, which is when a horse is leaning on the right rein which can be a sign of pain, discomfort, or a learned evasion to avoid pressure from the rider’s aids.
“He took to turn nicely and after a long layoff he has had a bit of a blow,” Peate told Kingsmoor.
“There was a strong pace early on so I just slotted him in and got him in to a nice rhythm.
“He is still a baby and the fact that he came under pressure a good way out, he has knuckled down really well.
“He has had a good blow so whatever he has done today is a bonus moving forward.
“He should get a mile and a half in time, but just with more juice in the ground.”
