chased leaders far side group, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
mid-division stands side, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
always behind far side group, tailed off over 1f out
behind stands side group, never dangerous
chased leaders far side group, ridden over 2f out, disputed lead approaching final furlong until hard ridden well inside final furlong
held up far side group, never dangerous, tailed off over 1f out
chased leaders stand side group, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
towards rear far side group, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
mid-division stands side group, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
towards rear stand side group, no impression from over 1f out
held up far side group, ridden and headway from 1f out, disputed lead final furlong, all out to lead well inside last
made all stands side group, ridden and hung left from 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
chased leaders far side group, weakened over 1f out
with leaders far side group, led briefly over 1f out far side group, no extra inside final furlong
switched left to lead far side group, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, tailed off
switched left to race far side group, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong
with leaders far side group, led far side group over 2f out, headed final furlong, no extra
held up in touch stands side group, effort over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, kept on, no impression final furlong
switched right to race stands side group, held up, always behind, tailed off over 1f out
mid-division stands side group, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong
slowly into stride, mid-division far side group, ridden well over 1f out, no extra final furlong
raced stands side group, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up stands side group, ridden 2f out, no impression
behind stands side group, not clear run over 2f out until over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong
chased leaders stands side group, ridden and weakened over 1f out
ridden and behind far side group, stayed on from over 1f out, nearest at finish
chased leaders stands side group, ridden and weakened over 1f out
Out After Dark has an obvious chance on the evidence of his Portland success but a 5lb penalty for his win at Doncaster leaves the Clive Cox-trained gelding with more to do and preference is for Pieter Brueghel, who gets the vote over stablemate Continent. Like the selection, the last mentioned is trained by David Nicholls and, like the selection, ran a blinder in the Portland when staying on strongly into third place on the far side. He has to be respected with the recent rain in his favour but a draw in stall 15 is not ideal and Pieter Brueghel is better berthed. The selection went to Doncaster on the back of a fine second to stable companion Ice Planet in Ripon's Great St Wilfred and lost no caste in defeat on Town Moor winning the race with something to spare up the stands side rail. Quite at home with some cut in the ground and ideally drawn in stall 26, Pieter Brueghel gets the vote to give David Nicholls the winner of this valuable handicap for a fifth time. Fonthill Road finished sixth in the Silver Cup last year but has improved significantly since then and cannot be discounted although a draw in stall four is of some concern. Another of the Nicholls team Traytonic and John Quinn's Fantasy Believer hold obvious place claims from decent draws, while Partners In Jazz deserves to win a decent prize after a string of placed effort sin competitive handicaps. Bygone Days, Majestic Times and Khabfair are others to consider but the bottom weight Pieter Brueghel has plenty going for him and he gets the vote.
Chookie Heiton (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Held up in rear stand's side, headway 2f out, switched right and ridden entering final furlong, nearest finish, 7th of 21, 1 1/2l behind Out After Dark (8-12) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf.
Out After Dark 14-1 (8-12) Held up far side group, headway well over 1f out, switched right and ridden entering final furlong, ran on to lead near finish, won at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf beating Pieter Brueghel (8-8) by 3/4l, 21 ran.
Just James 33-1 (9-3) Started slowly, always towards rear stands' side, 18th of 24, 11l behind New Seeker (9-4) at Newbury 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Traytonic 66-1 (9-0) Behind, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 16th of 17, 10l behind Goodricke (8-12) at Haydock 6f Grp 1 (1) gd.
Fonthill Road (IRE) 2-1fav (8-12) Towards rear, soon chased along, never on terms, 7th of 10, 6l behind Chookie Heiton (8-12) at Beverley 5f lst stk (1) gs in Aug.
Dance Night (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) 4th early, weakened from halfway, 6th of 7, 15l behind Benbaun (9-1) at Curragh 5f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Talbot Avenue 2-1fav (8-7) Pulled hard, held up in touch, ridden and stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Foley Millennium (8-7) at Leicester 5f stk (4) gf.
Connect 33-1 (8-11) Dwelt, behind stand's side, headway 2f out, switched left and ridden entering final furlong, kept on, nearest finish, 10th of 21, 2l behind Out After Dark (8-12) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf.
Philharmonic 50-1 (9-7) Mid-division stands' side, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 16th of 27, 7l behind Gift Horse (9-7) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Partners In Jazz (USA) 12-1 (9-6) Chased leaders on far side until weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 27, 5l behind Gift Horse (9-7) at Goodwood 6f hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Presto Shinko (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Behind, good headway over 1f out, ran on well to lead inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Goodwood 6f hcp (3) gd in Aug beating Greenslades (9-6) by 3/4l, 19 ran.
Majestic Times (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, effort when hampered 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Moon Unit (9-6) at Curragh 6f lst stk (1) gd in Aug.
Coleorton Dancer 33-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon beaten, 14th of 20, 13l behind Tax Free (8-9) at York 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug.
Peace Offering (IRE) 11-4 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Mystical Land (8-8) at Nottingham 5f stk (4) gs in Aug.
Funfair Wane 66-1 (8-12) Always behind far side group, 18th of 21, 6l behind Out After Dark (8-12) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf.
River Falcon 7-1 (9-5) Chased leaders far side, ridden and stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 23, 4l behind Ice Planet (8-7) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug.
Sierra Vista 9-2 (8-13) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed and not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Indian Maiden (9-2) at Chester 6f lst fll stk (1) sft.
Bygone Days 7-1 (9-2) Held up in touch, kept on from 1 1/2f out, 8th of 21, 3l behind Miss Sally (7-10) at Curragh 6f hcp gf in Jun.
Fictional 14-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on well, won at York 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Bo McGinty (8-1) by 1/2l, 20 ran.
Khabfair 22-1 (9-0) Held up, headway and switched to outside over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind dhtrs Moss Vale (9-0) & Ashdown Express (9-0) at Goodwood 6f lst stk (1) gf.
Capricho (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Raced stands' side, slowly into stride, always behind, 15th of 18, 15l behind Iffraaj (8-7) at Lingfield 7f hcp (2) gd in May.
Fantasy Believer 10-1 (8-10) Switched right start to race stand's side, headway 2f out, switched left and ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 13th of 21, 3l behind Out After Dark (8-12) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf.
Continent 66-1 (8-10) Dwelt, behind far side group, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 21, 1l behind Out After Dark (8-12) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf.
Primus Inter Pares (IRE) 100-1 (8-9) Always in rear division, 19th of 22, 23l behind New Seeker (9-0) at York 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Merlin's Dancer 9-1 (8-9) Close up stand's side group, overall leader after 1f, ridden 2f out, driven and headed entering final furlong, edged right and weakened, 16th of 21, 5l behind Out After Dark (8-12) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf.
Yomalo (IRE) 6-1 (8-9) Towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Intoxicating (8-12) at York 6f hcp (2) gf.
Pieter Brueghel (USA) 11-1 (8-8) Led stand's side group for 1f, close up until ridden entering final furlong, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 21, 3/4l behind Out After Dark (8-12) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf.
Intoxicating 9-2jt-fav (8-12) Held up, smooth progress 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at York 6f hcp (2) gf beating Doric (8-3) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
