led, ridden along 3f out, headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up behind leader, driven over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
held up, headway on outer over 2f out, led 2f out, ridden and kept on gamely final furlong
dwelt and behind, headway on outer 4f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden along over 3f out, driven to challenge and every chance 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden along halfway, driven over 1f out, one pace final furlong
Nevada Desert is a tough battler that has shaped as if he on the way back, so gets the nomination as the one to beat in this tricky little handicap; the in-form Stolen Glance is respected in his hat-trick bid, while Secret Liaison is also given a strong mention despite having been off the track for the best part of a year. Secret Liaison looks to be a typical contender for Sir Mark Prescott to go to war with this season, as he has already enjoyed a good strike-rate with four wins from thirteen starts. There has to be the suspicion that he will need this to put him straight though and he is very much one to take notes on. Stolen Glance reverts to the All Weather on a 3lb lower mark than her current turf rating, so she has a feasible chance of brushing aside her penalty for winning at Ayr last week. Even so, this is a much stronger contest and she will really need to pull out all the stops. Especially if Nevada Desert finds his stride at an early stage. Richard Whittaker's charge is a tough battler that acts well on this surface and, as he appears to be on the boil just now, it would come as no surprise to see him add to his tally tonight.
Secret Liaison 11-4fav (9-4) With leader, led over 5f out until over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 13, 6l behind Hiccups (8-10) at Warwick 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sept.
Nevada Desert (IRE) 10-1 (8-4) Prominent, ridden along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 4l behind Flipando (9-4) at Beverley 1m hcap (3) gd in May.
Yakimov (USA) 20-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden along when outpaced 3f out, driven and stayed on towards finish, 4th of 8, 9l behind Genari (8-4) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in May.
Kaballero (GER) 40-1 (8-12) Started slowly, always behind, 8th of 9, 9l behind Flipando (9-4) at Beverley 1m hcap (3) gd in May.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, lost place 3f out, stayed on to take 3rd close home, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Moody Tunes (9-1) at Yarmouth 1m hcap (4) gd in May.
Stolen Glance 5-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, led inside last, kept on under pressure, just held on, won at Ayr 1m 1f hcap (5) gd in May beating Sedgwick (8-13) by a hd, 9 ran.
