raced alone far side, prominent with stand side until hung right to stand side group 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, effort inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish
outpaced, switched left over 1f out, finish on far side, never a factor
always towards rear
tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
short of room soon after start, towards rear, never on terms
in touch, pushed along halfway, weakened final furlong
overall leader, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish
in rear, pushed along halfway, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on, nearest finish
always towards rear
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
bumped soon after start, close up, pushed along halfway, faded inside final furlong
in touch, pushed along halfway, ridden 2f out, no impression
Tim Easterby and Bob Cowell both run three in the day’s feature with last week’s York winner Copper Knight possibly the pick of the former’s trio, ahead of East Street Revue and Excessable, and Blue Vega preferred of the latter’s raiding party to last year’s winner Storm Over. But, despite an 8lb rise, we are loathe to desert the in-form DAKOTA GOLD, who might be able to dictate matters from the inside berth and never looked like being caught dropping back to 5f last time at Haydock – he ran well on his only previous start on soft ground. Captain Colby bids for a hat-trick but will have to defy a penalty for last week’s success in lesser company at Musselburgh. Duke Of Firenze, winner of this in 2014, is starting to look a little long in the tooth.
Dakota Gold 4-1fav (8-11) Made all, ridden over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, stayed on strongly and in command final 75 yards, won at Haydock 5f hcp (2) gs in Sep beating Tarboosh (9-9) by 2l, 17 ran.
Copper Knight (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Prominent, led 2f out, edged left over 1f out, ran on well, won at York 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Camacho Chief (9-4) by 3/4l, 18 ran.
Captain Colby (USA) 10-1 (9-2) Soon led, ridden over 1f out, ran on, held on well, won at Musselburgh 5f stks (3) gd in Oct beating Tarboosh (9-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Bengali Boys (IRE) 14-1 (9-10) Raced centre, mid-division, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 20th of 23, 11 3/4l behind Snazzy Jazzy (9-8) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) hvy in Sep.
Storm Over (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Close up behind leaders, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Intense Romance (8-8) at Haydock 5f hcp (2) hvy in Sep.
Foolaad 33-1 (9-10) Raced centre, chased leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, last of 23, 25 1/4l behind Snazzy Jazzy (9-8) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) hvy in Sep.
Evergate 5-1 (9-7) Close up, pushed along and unable to quicken over 1f out, effort between horses approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Erissimus Maximus (8-10) at Ascot 5f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Blue De Vega (GER) 6-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up and behind, headway when not clear run over 1f out, switched right and ran on towards finish, not trouble leaders, 5th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Encore d'Or (9-7) at Leicester 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Bowson Fred 25-1 (9-3) Went right start, prominent, led over 3f out, headed 2f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 18, 7 1/2l behind Copper Knight (9-5) at York 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Duke Of Firenze 14-1 (9-2) Held up in mid-division, headway over 1f out, unable to get on terms, 7th of 18, 3 3/4l behind Copper Knight (9-5) at York 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
East Street Revue 6-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, every chance over 1f out, kept on, lost 2nd towards finish, 4th of 18, 2 1/4l behind Copper Knight (9-5) at York 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Excessable 20-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, every chance over 1f out, stayed on same pace final 100 yards, 5th of 18, 3l behind Copper Knight (9-5) at York 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Classic Pursuit 25-1 (9-5) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, 3rd and stayed on same pace final 75 yards, 3rd of 19, 2 1/2l behind Captain Jameson (9-2) at York 6f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Tan 5-1 (9-7) Led, ridden inside final furlong, kept on and headed towards finish, 4th of 13, 1 1/4l behind Maygold (9-2) at Nottingham 5f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
