tracked leaders, keen early, every chance from over 1f out, led inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home
chased leaders, every chance inside final furlong, one pace closing stages
held up, headway inside final furlong, not reached leaders
held up in touch, driven and headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, just failed
held up in touch, headway on inside entering final furlong, ran on to lead final strides
chased leader, driven to challenge over 1f out, kept on same pace
slowly into stride, held up, never dangerous
behind, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reached leaders
held up, headway inside final furlong, ran on
started very slowly, behind, headway over 1f out, never dangerous
led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra
The way Sir Mark Prescott's horses have been running lately First Order First Order has to be respected on his return but the three-year-old faces no easy task giving weight away all round and preference is for Texas Gold, who gets the vote over Sir Desmond. The last mentioned bounced back to form at Ascot last week but would probably prefer a softer surface. A similar comment probably applies to Lynda Ramsden's Cape Royal and of more interest on the prevailing fast ground is the Mark Tompkins-trained Connect, who has been running well without winning this term and should be suited by the stiff finish. The consistent, but badly handicapped, Henry Hall and Dean Ivory's Further Outlook are others to consider but the vote goes to Texas Gold. Willie Muir's gelding was not disgraced on unsuitably soft ground behind Pivotal Point at Ascot but is a much better horse on a fast surface and is taken to reverse Ascot form with Sir Desmond.