started slowly, outpaced and always outpaced towards rear
raced keenly tracking leader, ridden and lost 2nd inside final 2f, no extra in 3rd final furlong
off the pace towards rear, stayed on late, never on terms
wore hood to post, led and set steady pace, quickened pace 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
tracked leading pair, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on strongly
held up in 5th, weakened final 3f
pushed along and struggling halfway, off the pace and always towards rear
chased leaders, pushed along and struggling over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
slowly away, went right and bumped start, off the pace in last pair, pushed along and struggling halfway, tailed off
mid-division, headway out wide chasing leaders over 3f out, pushed along and hung left over 2f out, hung back right and weakened inside final 2f
mid-division, plugged on in modest 4th final 2f
The Raven's Return has won twice over hurdles recently but makes his Flat debut aged nine and is unlikely to have the speed to match younger rivals. There has been no stopping Charlie Appleby and William Buick in the first few weeks of the Turf season and COSMIC DESERT led until approaching the final furlong on his debut at Newmarket 12 days ago, despite being the outsider of the three Godolphin runners. Deauville Legend showed promise in both runs last year while Aerospace got no sort of run on his debut at Wolverhampton yet was only beaten a couple of lengths by Emily Upjohn, who was very impressive at Sandown last week and is a leading fancy for the Oaks. Balhambar is a newcomer to note but Australian Angel may do better in handicaps.
The Raven's Return 5-2fav (11-3) Held up, headway to track leaders approaching 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on well flat, won at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr beating Rickety Gate (10-3) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Aerospace (IRE) Evensfav (9-2) Raced in mid-division, ridden and kept on at 2f, denied a clear run inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 12, 2l behind Emily Upjohn (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Nov.
Balhambar (FR) Almanzor colt out of Moojeh.
Cosmic Desert 13-2 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 5l behind New London (9-9) at Newmarket 1m 2f stks (4) gd in Apr.
D Day Hero (IRE) 200-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, pushed along out wide over 3f out, weakening when hung left and wandered 2f out, 6th of 11, 18 3/4l behind True Accolade (9-5) at Windsor 1m 2f stks (5) gd in Apr.
Deauville Legend (IRE) 2-1fav (9-2) Soon led, ridden over 1f out, headed final strides, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Speycaster (9-2) at Chelmsford City 1m stks (4) pol in Nov.
From Little Acorns 250-1 (9-5) Chased leaders near side of group, weakened over 2f out, tailed off, last of 10, 33 1/4l behind Bayside Boy (9-5) at Newbury 7f stks (4) gd in Jul.
Gulick (IRE) 100-1 (9-5) Never closer than mid-division, 9th of 11, 26 1/2l behind True Accolade (9-5) at Windsor 1m 2f stks (5) gd in Apr.
Knight's Gambit 125-1 (9-3) Towards rear, ridden 3f out, never involved, 11th of 13, 22 3/4l behind Maksud (9-3) at Windsor 1m 2f stks (5) gs in Apr.
Our Boy Sam 125-1 (8-13) Raced wide tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 12th of 13, 16 1/4l behind War Of Words (8-13) at Southwell 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Apr.
Via Serica 100-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, hung left and ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 19l behind Natural World (9-5) at Newbury 1m 3f mdn stks (3) gd in Apr.
Australian Angel 11-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced 2f out, weakened soon after, 6th of 7, 6 1/4l behind Night Battle (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f fll stks (5) pol in Apr.
