chased leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, weakened 1f out
switched left start, mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, no impression final furlong
always towards rear
raced keenly and led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure
with leader, led over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on final furlong
chased leaders, headway to challenge over 1f out, ridden and kept on until weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders to halfway, soon behind
mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on to chase winner inside final furlong, no impression
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon outpaced
with leaders, ridden and lost place 3f out, soon outpaced
behind, ridden and headway when edged left over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, nearest finish
If he handles ground this fast then Desert Lightning sets the standard here and gets our tentative vote from Suhezy, Midge's Girl and Beverley Beau. Desert Lightning has found one too good on his two most recent starts, and drops back to six furlongs for the first time here. In this company that should not prove to be too much of a problem and as he would have won his penultimate start a furlong from home this may yet see him to better effect, so on ground that suits he gets the nod. Midge's Girl hung on to land a claimer at Southwell last time but has so far not put in her best on fast ground and is overlooked here. Suhezy has been running over the minimum trip of late but switches back to 6f here and will be hoping that the faster ground sees her go better than when last tried over the distance at Southwell, while Beverley Beau is still a maiden after 17 starts, but is not shy of making the frame over this trip and on the polytrack, so could run into a place once more. But Desert Lightning looks the one to beat here and is our choice.
Haroldini (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway when not much room and switched right over 1f out, one pace after, 7th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Misty Princess (8-13) at W'hampton 6f banded stk (7) pol in Apr.
Desert Lightning (IRE) 15-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, not much room over 2f out, switched right, chased winner final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Onlytime Will Tell (9-7) at Southwell 7f sll (6) gd in Apr.
Apetite 50-1 (8-6) Always behind stand's side, 15th of 19, 12l behind My Rascal (8-10) at Thirsk 6f 3yo hcp (6) gd in Sept.
Beverley Beau 10-1 (8-6) Led early, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 4l behind Misty Princess (8-13) at W'hampton 6f banded stk (7) pol in Apr.
Chairman Rick (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, outpaced, not much room over 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 14, 6l behind Justcallmehandsome (8-4) at Southwell 7f mdn clm (7) fbs in Jan.
Straffan (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Prominent, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 14, 6l behind Up Tempo (9-11) at Yarmouth 6f clm (6) gf in Apr.
Desert Bounty 16-1 (8-2) Behind, outpaced from halfway, 6th of 7, 12l behind Titus Alone (8-13) at Redcar 5f nov aut stk (5) gf.
Suhezy (IRE) 13-2 (8-11) Chased leaders, not much room 2f out, soon one pace, 5th of 10, 5l behind Toy Top (9-4) at Catterick 5f 3yo hcp (6) frm in Apr.
Coquet Island 40-1 (9-0) Behind from halfway, last of 14, 18l behind Mormeatmic (8-6) at Catterick 5f 3yo hcp (6) gs in Apr.
Sweetly Sharp (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Behind, ridden halfway, stayed on approaching final furlong, 7th of 14, 7l behind Mormeatmic (8-6) at Catterick 5f 3yo hcp (6) gs in Apr.
Midge's Girl (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Held up, headway over 2f out, led and hung left over 1f out, ridden out, won at Southwell 7f banded stk (7) fbs in Mar beating Beginners Luck (8-4) by a hd, 11 ran.
