Cold Case got his season off to a red-hot start with a smooth success in the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot this afternoon…

Cold Case got his season off to a red-hot start with a smooth success in the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot this afternoon…

Karl Burke's Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy winner returned to the track in impressive fashion to land the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial.

Cold Case showed plenty of early pace to lead up on the nearside for much of the contest but found himself headed by the strong travelling Bradsell as they entered the final two furlongs.

The Archie Watson-trained favourite (Bradsell) (13/8) certainly caught the eye but was perhaps found lacking fitness as Karl Burke's son of Showcasing battled on strongly to regain the initiative and eventually pull clear for a comfortable one-and-a-half-length victory. John Ryan's The XO ran a huge race to snatch second with the tiring Bradsell a short-head back in third.

The success provided Clifford Lee with a first Group winner at Ascot.

Speaking with Matt Chapman on Sky Sports Racing afterwards jockey Clifford Lee said, "we've always thought he was a nice horse. He was very good last year. Backend of the year he won the two-year-old trophy, and he seems to have obviously improved.

"This lad had a bit of an injury a month or so ago, but he's come back sound and I always thought I was going to get back up. They went for home a long way from the winning post and this lad just gallops".

"I do think he'll get seven furlongs and I've struggled to pull him up. I couldn't pull him up at all which is always good, and I hit the line very hard".

"It's always good to get winners and Group winners are better".

Cold Case was cut from a general 8/1 from 16/1 for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June. Little Big Bear (due to run in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday) currently heads the market at a general 11/2.