A competitive affair, and no surprise to see the first seven covered by just a couple of lengths.

However, ZOWINGTON was always going well from his outside draw, close to the pace throughout, and although he needed keeping right up to his work inside the final furlong, he was very much in command from the moment he hit the front approaching the furlong marker. Chris Wall had been toying with stepping him up to 7f this year, but he will keep him to shorter distances now and is eyeing a valuable 6f handicap at Newmarket over Guineas weekend, provided it does not get too firm.

Cape Royal, who won this two years ago and was third last year, spoilt his chance with a slow start and did well to run the winner so close, having trailed the field through the first half of the race. He looks right back to form and should be paying his way again soon.

High Reach made a pleasing debut for his new stable over a trip short of his best. He struggled to go the pace against these 5f specialists and was doing his best work at the finish. Although he has a frustrating record overall, he shaped well enough here to suggest connections will find him a nice prize in due course.

Rare Cross, making her debut for a new stable, showed terrific speed and kept on better than she might have done once headed. This was her first run in ten months and has to go down as a good effort.

Plateau goes well here - though he has yet to win in five attempts - and he ran another solid race. He was always up there and would have finished a shade closer but for being a bit short of room over a furlong from home.

Desert Lord was theoretically a pound well in under his penalty, after being raised 7lb for his impressive Musselburgh win. However, he had stall 1 to contend with - not such a disadvantage as it turned out, with the winner in stall 2 - and he had an inexperienced apprentice taking over from Jamie Spencer. He wasn't disgraced, but he was never quite on the pace and probably found this downhill 5f plenty sharp enough. He remains interesting with his new stable.

Polish Emperor and Wanchai Lad were both well beaten, although the latter showed plenty of speed. Both raced tight against the rail, which one experienced course walker reckoned was the worst place to be.

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