always towards rear, struggling final 3f
prominent, ridden to press leader from 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, weakened final 100 yards
started slowly, always behind, struggling 3f out
slowly into stride, recovered and soon in mid-divsion, effort and hung left under pressure over 1f out, weakened
in rear, hard driven on outer and no impression from 2f out
in rear, not clear run inside final 2f, soon switch left, stayed on to lead inside final furlong comfortably
close up, lost place halfway, stayed on again final furlong, not paced to reach leaders
in mid-division, ridden to challenge 2f out, stayed on to press for 2nd inside final furlong but not pace of winner
raced keenly, tracked leader to over 2f out, losing place when hampered over 1f out
track leaders, ridden to lead narrowly 2f out, unable to quicken and headed inside final furlong but kept on well for 2nd
in mid-division, kept on same pace final 2f, never able to challenge
led, quickened halfway, 4 lengths clear, 3f out, headed 2f out and soon weakened
Despite the presence of the unexposed duo of Desert Quest and Love That Benny plus Persephone Heights, an eight-length winner in a handicap at Newmarket last time, it is difficult to get away from Alba Stella, who is taken to complete a hat trick. Sir Mark Prescott's stable remains in good form and this half-sister has won both starts this term (both in handicaps) with the minimum of fuss. Like most of her family, the selection seems to improving with age and the daughter of Nashwan should be good enough to defy a 6lb penalty for her most recent success at Folkestone. Sir Michael Stoute's Windsor maiden winner Desert Quest disappointed at Newmarket last time and is probably best watched here, while John Gosden's Love That Benny still looked green when winning at Yarmouth last time and may find this coming too soon. Of more interest could be runaway Newmarket winner Persephone Heights although he has to race off a 14lb higher mark to day and that makes things tougher. Top weight Largo would have to be respected if he can reproduce the form that saw him win back-to-back races at Chepstow and Windsor, while Alan King's small team of flat horses always warrant respect so Trouble At Bay should not be dismissed lightly. However, Alba Stella looks on the upgrade at present and is difficult to oppose.
