tracked leaders, ridden and one pace final 2f
led, headed over 2f out, driven and soon weakened
held up and keen, ridden over 3f out, kept on one pace final 2f
in touch, ridden over 3f out, one pace final 2f
mid-division, headway under pressure over 2f out, driven and weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous
in rear, ridden over 3f out, never troubled leaders
in touch, ridden over 3f out, one pace final 2f
tracked leaders, every chance under pressure 2f out, soon driven, weakened
chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
towards rear, ridden over 3f out, never troubled leaders
mid-division, hampered over 5f out, no danger after
chased leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, driven out final furlong
towards rear, headway under pressure over 2f out, kept on final furlong, not reach winner
towards rear, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous
The most interesting horses look to be lurking down the bottom of the handicap and it is DESERT CREEK who is taken to score ahead of Set The Trend, Fareer and Cruikadyke. With Louis-Philippe Beuzelin's 5lb claim, the selection appears to be very attractively weighted today. His recent win at Windsor on his reappearance was a pleasing effort and we know that he handles this ground following his Yarmouth win last season. The stable are in good form and he looks the horse they have to beat. Fareer and Good Again both come here on the back of wins, the most impressive being Fareer's success at Chester which stands up well. His previous third to Makaamen at Newbury looks solid form and he cannot be overlooked. Sonning Gate and Derbaas are both consistent enough, whilst blinkers are applied on Sri Putra but his handicap mark still looks tough. Tudor Key and Foundation Room can be expected to improve on their reappearance runs, a comment that may also apply to Isabella Grey, Roman Glory and Deadly Secret. Set The Trend and Thief Of Time have been holding their form well in lesser races and may find the improvement required to feature in this finish, however we will stick with Desert Creek to lead them home.
Derbaas (USA) 8-1 (8-13) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, soon eased, last of 5, 31l behind Redwood (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 1f 3yo lst stk (1) gf in Apr.
Isabella Grey 16-1 (8-12) Prominent, ridden over 2f, driven and one pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Nashmiah (9-1) at York 1m 3yo fll lst stsk (1) gs.
Good Again 7-1 (8-4) Held up, headway 3f out, led over 1f out, wandered under pressure inside final furlong, ran on strongly, won at Ascot 1m fll hcp (2) gf beating Secret Night (8-9) by 4l, 13 ran.
Markyg (USA) 20-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge, 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Pure Poetry (8-12) at Kempton 1m 3yo Listed stks (1) pol in Apr.
Viva Ronaldo (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Awkward start, held up in rear, not clear run just over 1f out, staying on carrying head high inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 4th of 8, 3l behind Fareer (8-9) at Chester 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Canwinn (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Always in rear, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 6th of 7, 13l behind Debussy (9-1) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f con stks (2) gd in Apr.
Deadly Secret (USA) 16-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 11th of 14, 11l behind Brief Encounter (8-9) at York 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Fareer 7-2fav (8-9) Held up towards rear, headway on outside well over 1f out, soon hung left, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Chester 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf beating Tartan Gunna (8-9) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Cruikadyke 14-1 (8-13) Held up 6th, ridden over 2f out, no impression on leaders over 1f out, soon outpaced and weakened, 6th of 8, 18l behind Racketeer (8-4) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
Roman Glory (IRE) 4-9fav (9-0) Pressed leader, led 2f out, soon headed, edged right, outpaced by winner inside final furlong, lost 2 places last strides, 4th of 10, 4l behind Standpoint (9-0) at Warwick 7f mdn stks (5) fm.
Sonning Gate 12-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, hung left from 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 6l behind Desert Creek (8-9) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Foundation Room (IRE) 11-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, pushed along when denied clear run from just over 1f out until switched right inside final furlong, ran on towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Fareer (8-9) at Chester 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Desert Creek (IRE) 7-4fav (8-9) Tracked leaders, led on inside over 3f out, hard ridden and in command over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Windsor 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf beating Emirates Roadshow (8-9) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Set The Trend 13-8fav (9-4) Tracked leaders, led going well 2f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, stayed on gamely, won at Kempton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) std in Apr beating Antinori (9-3) by nk, 9 ran.
Thief of Time (IRE) 13-8fav (8-5) Held up towards rear, headway on outside 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Racketeer (8-4) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
Sri Putra 3-1 (9-2) 5th of 3, 9l behind Irian (9-2) at Cologne(GER) 1m 3yo Grp 2.
Tudor Key (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Keen, held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 11, 9l behind Perpetually (8-9) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr.
