tracked winner, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
behind, under pressure 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
led for 2f, headed and outpaced over 2f out, hard ridden approaching final furlong, led inside, driven out
held up mid-division, ridden halfway soon beaten
started slowly, towards rear, headway and effort over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
tracked winner, led after 2f, headed over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, led over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
in rear, headway 2f out, effort wide over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
in touch to 3f out, soon weakened
started slowly, always behind
Merlin's Dancer can land the spoils in first time blinkers here, with Summer Lightning, Ben Lomand and Excalinor also coming into the reckoning. William Muir's colt didn't do a great deal wrong when making most of the running before finishing second in a big field at Nottingham last time, but the blinkers might just sharpen him up that little bit extra, and he is taken to go one better here. Summer Lightning had some solid form as a juvenile, having won three times, and is sure to strip fitter for her reappearance at Chepstow, when she finished in mid-division. Ben Lomand put up a much-improved display when winning a Classified Stakes at Brighton last time, but the drop back in trip seemed to serve him well and he should not be too far away on just a six pounds higher mark here. He is just preferred to the lightly-raced Excalinor, who makes his handicap debut having made all to win at Nottingham last time out.
