Sharoura has only beaten four horses home here in her last three runs, but earlier efforts entitle her to respect, especially as this trip is likely to suit, but Arc En Ciel looked as good as ever when returning to action here last week, and although he will need to turn in a personal best if he is to win off this career-high mark, there is almost certainly more to come from him. He looks to have the measure of Blonde En Blonde, who is only 4lbs better off for four-lengths. Sharoura has never won beyond six-furlongs, but she does stay this far, as she showed when chasing home Ballyhurry at Musselburgh back in June. She is much better treated on this surface than she is on turf (10lbs lower) and has place claims at least. The maiden Zak Facta is starting to slip down the weights and has several bits of form that put him in here with a squeak, notably when failing by a neck to peg back subsequent winner How's Things at Southwell back in October. The Gaikwar looked to be an animal of some promise when winning a Newmarket handicap last year, but he has lost his way since then, albeit in the face of some stiff tasks. He is now down to a respectable mark (69), and it would come as no surprise to see him in the shake up. The three-year-old Naughty Girl looks to face a stiff task off her current mark on this all-weather debut, while Mister Mal seems to have two ways of running nowadays. So, Arc En Ciel is taken to land his sixth win here, at the main expense of Sharoura.
