Have just received this after second round:

"As you will see, the reviewers are very positive about your work and based on their recommendations, I am happy to conditionally accept your paper for publication in the Journal of X, subject to you addressing the minor points made by reviewers 1 & 3. I would therefore like to invite you to prepare a re-submission taking these suggestions on board and on completion, I will desk edit the article on receipt."

Whilst the other two reviewers seem happy with the paper reviewer 1 still has a list of 20 comments (down from the 60 odd in the first round!), some of which would require substantial work if we took them on board.

Q1: I note that above the editor says he will 'desk edit' the article- can I assume this means he'll take a look himself rather than send back out to the reviewers?

Q2: I also wonder whether this is a sign he thinks reviewer 1 is being overly picky, and perhaps we might be able to push back against some things. Does this seem likely to you?

Q3: Does anyone know the likelihood of acceptance after conditional accept? Is there much chance it wont go through at this point? (I really need this publication!)

Many thanks! :)

*bump* (Posted sat but just approved by mods)