prominent until ridden and weakened halfway
awkward start, led, headed over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong
held up, pushed along halfway, headway over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and held on gamely close home (new course record)
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, headway over 3f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden halfway, soon weakened
slowly into stride, raced keen early, held up, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
A decent looking renewal of this one mile Listed contest with some decent types lining up for the prize-money on offer. Among them recent Curragh winner Umistim, 2001 Craven winner King's Ironbridge, Dee Stakes winner Sohaib and Godolphin's Masterful all have obvious claims. Tikkun, the only three-year-old in the line up and Calcutta, who bounced back to winning ways when beating sole rival Wannabee Around at Bath on Monday, are others to consider but the TEAMtalk selection has to be Desert Deer. Mark Johnston's four-year-old looked potentially top class when making a winning reappearance here at the Guineas meeting. Subsequently disappointing when upped in class for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting, he has been given plenty of time since and looked back to something like his best when the facile winner of a conditions race at Newbury last time. The son of Cadeaux Genereux is taken to follow up here under Kevin Darley.
