disputed lead, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
held up in touch, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged left and ridden out final furlong
held up, ridden 2f out, one-paced
disputed lead til over 2f out, kept on one pace
held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, kept on one pace
close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
The appliance of logic to horseracing is a dangerous mind-set but this does look to be a good opportunity for Desert Deer to pick up where he left off last season. The Cadeaux Genereux gelding has won six of his 10 previous starts and is as admirable as he is tough. However, there are a few imponderables in this race and a saver option if 2/1 can be squeezed out of the ring is fair for a horse that has been off the track for 195 days. Olden Times has some very useful form to his name and has to be a serious threat if he is fully wound up after almost a year on the sidelines. He stays this trip well and will be effective on the going. Where as the ground has turned against Pablo, who takes a big step up in class today. Potemkin and Priors Lodge are also opposable on the balance of form so it may be worth a small interest in With Reason, who is still very lightly raced. He did well to get within five lengths of Dandoun on his first outing on turf at Doncaster last month, and he could cause an upset with the in-form Frankie Dettori in the plate - despite the official figures for the race leaving him with plenty to find.
