raced keenly, soon pressing leader, pushed along and lost 2nd 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slight lead, ridden and headed 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, kept on same pace in 3rd
unseated rider and loose before start, chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, hung right and weakened inside final furlong
held up off the pace in last, headway on rail when switched left inside final 2f, soon 3rd, ridden and went 2nd inside final furlong, one pace and no impression on winner
slowly into stride, soon recovered tracking leaders, went 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on well
Only five runners but this is competitive nonetheless. Sir Michael Stoute's good strike rate at the track will likely see Arab Poet prove a popular choice having won at Lingfield in October. Garcia also ended last season with a maiden win when successful over 7f at York and he's not out of this but Mark Johnston has won two of the three previous renewals and runs KING'S PAVILION today. The latter finished a creditable third in testing ground at Ripon on his reappearance and can race off the same mark today. London Protocol ran well enough in a higher grade at Wolverhampton on his comeback but Desert Ruler has something to prove after another poor effort at Pontefract recently.
King's Pavilion (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) Chased leaders in 4th, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, soon chased winner until no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Dolphin Vista (9-1) at Ripon 1m hcp (3) hvy in Apr.
London Protocol (FR) 18-1 (8-12) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Turn Tide (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Desert Ruler 14-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, chased leaders, lost place well over 1f out, 8th of 9, 30 1/2l behind Stamp Hill (8-8) at Pontefract 6f hcp (3) hvy in Apr.
Arab Poet 8-11fav (9-5) Slow into stride soon in touch, headway on inner approaching final furlong, ridden to lead inside final furlong, edged right and ran on, won at Lingfield 6f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct beating Alshaqee (9-5) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Garcia 8-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway under pressure over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at York 7f mdn stks (3) gs in Oct beating Prying Pandora (9-0) by 1l, 10 ran.