slowly into stride, switched left start, towards rear, headway over 1f out, hampered inside final furlong, not recover
dwelt, towards rear, not much room 3f out to 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, switched left inside final furlong, ran on strongly, just failed
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
going well in touch, went prominent halfway, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
towards rear, headway halfway, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
dwelt, towards rear, headway on inside over 2f out, not clear run and switched right over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
tracked leaders, hampered and lost place 3f out, not recover
always towards rear
dwelt, towards rear, kept on under pressure over 1f out, never nearer
behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, not trouble leaders
prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, headway 5f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders to halfway, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden and not much room over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
mid-division, switched right and headway over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
A particularly competitive handicap full of unexposed and potentially well treated types in opposition and stakes should be kept to a minimum. Northern Desert is on the upgrade judged on his latest effort when a close runner-up in a useful conditions event at Newmarket and, along with recent Southwell maiden winner Selective, looks sure to go well from a reasonable draw. Ed Dunlop's Baldour landed a Folkestone maiden on his comeback and gave the impression there was plenty more to come while both Raphael and Sewmuch Character shaped nicely last time and are others to consider along with the progressive Lord Melbourne and Desert Royal. The latter is lightly weighted and hails from a yard that does well at this meeting.