Exposed sorts in this sprint handicap, and a few looked as though they would come on for the run. On the evidence of this race, the stands' side seems preferable to the centre as the winner, MERLIN'S DANCER, was drawn 15 and the second was drawn 11. Merlin's Dancer, who had a couple of chips removed from a joint last season, has come back in good order and making all up the stands' rail, had it won a furlong out. This was his highest-ever winning mark, but ideally needs faster ground. Whether he will be able to win wen reassessed remains to be seen.

Tom Tun ran well considering he is more effective on softer ground, and though the draw probably favoured him here, and he's still pretty high in the weights, he's clearly in good heart after a break and will be interesting racing on testing ground in the next week or two.

Johnston's Diamond took time to warm to his task, but ran on well in the final furlong to come out best of the low draw horses. However, he's only an occasional winner these days.

Rydal kept on but edged left, and though he's a consistent sort, he's not that easy to win with.

Glaramara never got to the leaders, Saristar looked fairly straight but ran a fair race and Selective wasn't disgraced considering he looked in need of the race.

These eight were clear of Funfair Wane, who looked far from fully wound up, wasn't ideally drawn but showed plenty of speed.

Fantasy Believer looked as though he would come on for the run, and Commando Scott faded after showing up to halfway.