pressed leader, ridden 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, rallied on inside over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in touch, effort and wide on bend 2f out, soon weakened
steaded start, held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, headway 2f out, driven and no impression over 1f out
took keen hold, chased leaders racing 3 wide, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, unable to quicken towards finish
led, ridden and joined inside final furlong, kept slight advantage until headed and not pace of winner towards finish
chased leaders on inside, ridden to challenge over 1f out, disputing lead inside final furlong, stayed on until not pace of winner towards finish, held when edged left and bumped close home
held up in last pair, good headway on inside over 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, ran on to lead towards finish, went right close home
None of these can be easily dismissed in a really tight opener but DIAMOND DAME won over a distance just short of today's when successful at Wolverhampton on her debut and gets the tentative vote. Both Awesome Pearl and Instrumentalist opened their accounts over shorter trips on the Polytrack at the end of last year and Arch Of Colours can be forgiven her latest poor effort in heavy ground at Sandown as she'd scored at Wolverhampton before that. Dynastic gets first-time blinkers having failed to threaten on his handicap bow and Ruscello makes more appeal but Isthmus and Running Deer won't have to improve much on last year's efforts to get involved.
Arch Of Colours 14-1 (8-12) Ran in snatches, lst pair and struggling halfway, ridden and beaten over 3f out, 7th of 8, 24l behind Samba King (9-6) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) hvy in Apr.
Awesome Pearl (USA) 10-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, tracked leaders, switched left over 2f out, closed over 1f out, led inside final furlong, just held on, won at Kempton 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Oct beating Tortoni (9-3) by ns, 4 ran.
Diamond Dame (IRE) 15-8fav (8-12) In touch, ran green and hung right bend into straight 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, edged right, readily, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn auc stks (6) pol in Apr beating Hilali (9-3) by 2l, 6 ran.
Dynastic 16-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway on inside and switched right inside final 2f, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 4l behind Flying Trader (9-3) at Kempton 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Apr.
Instrumentalist (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) Tracked leader, challenged from over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn auc stks (6) pol in Dec beating Dark Falcon (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Isthmus 10-1 (9-3) Led early, tracked leader, ridden and every chance 1f out, not quicken near finish, 4th of 11, 3/4l behind Restaurateur (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Running Deer (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Took keen hold in touch, pushed along 3f out, hung left over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 4th close home, no chance with leading duo, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Lacily (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2yo fll mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Ruscello (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Pulled hard in touch, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Almuftarris (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Apr.
