awkwardly away, held up last, steady headway on outside 2f out went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on well, not quite pace to challenge
tracked leaders, went 2nd 8f out, led approaching halfway, pushed along over 2f out ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon no extra in 3rd
led and set steady pace, headed approaching halfway, chased leader, every chance 2f out, ridden still pressing over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leading trio, steady headway on outside 3f out, 3rd travelling well over 2f out, 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on gamely
Desert Encounter started the last campaign of a 26lb lower mark and continues to make progress as he showed with a comfortable victory in a Listed contest at Ascot for which he's penalised 3lb. Barsanti has gone up even further having started with a minor handicap victory at Chelmsford and now 34lb higher following four victories and three placed efforts in Listed class. Galapiat easily won handicaps at Leicester and Epsom last month and deserved his elevation into Group 2 company at Newmarket and was by no means disgraced behind Seventh Heaven. Restorer hasn't kicked on from his Listed victory in 2015 so this is best left to SECOND STEP, who can generally be seen performing at a higher level and is no longer burdened with a Group 1 penalty for his 2015 victory in Germany.
Desert Encounter (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Steadied start, took keen hold and held up in last pair, good headway towards inside 2f out, not clear run and switched right soon after, led over 1f out, quickened clear, won at Ascot 1m 4f lst stks (1) gf in May beating Star Storm (9-0) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Barsanti (IRE) 3-1 (9-5) Tracked winner, ridden to join winner over 1f out, edged left and no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Dal Harraild (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stks (1) gf in Sep.
Galapiat 5-1 (9-1) Led, headed 10f out, tracked clear leader, closed on leader 3f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 5, 8 1/4l behind Seventh Heaven (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in May.
Restorer 40-1 (9-0) Took keen hold, held up last, good headway on wide outside over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, almost snatched 2nd but no chance with winner, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Desert Encounter (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f lst stks (1) gf in May.
Second Step (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up in last pair, headway when not clearest of runs briefly over 1f out, 3rd inside final furlong, staying on but looked held when hampered well inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Muntahaa (8-13) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr.
