prominent, led narrowly halfway, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace
led narrowly, headed halfway, ridden over 2f out, gradually weakened from over 1f out
held up behind leaders, pushed wide and ridden over 1f out, no impression final furlong
restrained in rear on stands rail, some headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on
held up towards centre, ridden 3f out, edged left and no impression from over 1f out
held up towards rear, nudged along before halfway, ridden in last over 2f out, plugged on final furlong
Prominent towards centre, ridden over 2f out, faded final furlong
held up behind leaders towards centre, pulled towards near side to track leaders halfway, ridden and switched right over 1f out, led and edged left inside final furlong, driven out
close up, led going well over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
prominent, ridden over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, kept on one pace
pushed along to maintain position in midfield, lost place and ridden 3f out, behind entering final furlong, kept on past beaten horses
DARK DEFENDER has been raised 4lb for winning at Newmarket on his reappearance but scored off a higher mark last year and another bold bid is expected. Dandys Gold won over today’s trip at Newcastle before finishing runner-up over a mile at the same track and is preferred to stablemate Dapper Man while Ugo Gregory beat Edgewood in soft going at Nottingham last term and will be sharper for a recent comeback at Ripon where Paddy Power was well beaten. Galloway Hills is back on a winning mark and looks best of the rest.
Dark Defender 17-2 (9-5) Keen tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, all out, won at Newmarket 6f hcp (4) gs in Jun beating Colonel Frank (9-5) by nk, 7 ran.
Dapper Man (IRE) 11-2 (9-4) Led, driven over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, weakened towards finish, 5th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Magical Spirit (9-4) at Beverley 5f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Paddy Power (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Mid-division, effort over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 11, 7l behind I Am A Dreamer (9-7) at Ripon 6f hcp (4) gs in Jun.
Mogsy (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Mid-division, in rear over 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, never dangerous, 6th of 11, 7 3/4l behind Tadleel (9-5) at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Dandys Gold (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) Steadied start, keen in touch, headway over 2f out, led 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Caustic Love (9-1) at Newcastle 1m hcp fll (3) pol in Feb.
Mr Orange (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Broke well, held up towards rear, effort over 2f out, beaten over 1f out, 12th of 13, 11 1/4l behind Buccaneers Vault (9-4) at Redcar 6f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Galloway Hills 10-3jfav (9-3) Prominent, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Buccaneers Vault (9-4) at Redcar 6f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Edgewood 5-2 (9-6) In touch, headway and every chance over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Ugo Gregory (8-5) at Nottingham 6f hcp (5) sft in Aug.
Canford's Joy (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Always towards rear, last of 10, 24 1/4l behind Kingston Kurrajong (9-10) at Epsom 1m 1f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Ugo Gregory 11-1 (8-7) Chased leaders on outside, ridden and edged right 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind I Am A Dreamer (9-7) at Ripon 6f hcp (4) gs in Jun.
Quickly Does It 50-1 (9-3) Outpaced, 8th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Fox Hill (9-2) at Thirsk 6f hcp (6) gs in Jun.
