slowly into stride and behind, headway over 2f out, in touch, soon ridden, challenged over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, switched right and headway entering final furlong, kept on to lead close home
towards rear, ridden over 3f out, beaten over 1f out
behind, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon one pace
prominent, ridden halfway, weakened final furlong
soon led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, headway to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden halfway, headway to lead inside final furlong, headed close home
Desert Arc seems to have been revitalised by the switch to Mark Brisbourne's stable and a 6lb penalty for his latest success should not stop the six-year-old from completing a hat-trick, with Prince of Blues and Playful Dane rated the main dangers. The ex-Irish Ulysees would have claims on his best but that is all on a softer surface than today so of more interest may be Friar Tuck, who is better than he showed at Hamilton on Tuesday and who had, until then, been holding his form well in similar company. The seven-year-olds College Maid and Danakim both warrant respect of their lightweights but a bigger threat to the selection is likely to come from Prince Of Blues. The six-year-old is set to go up 1lb in future weights following an improved effort at Chester last time when a two-length third behind Awake. He has to be respected along with the consistent Playful Dane but Desert Arc has been in the form of his life since joining his current connections and is hard to oppose.
