chased leader on near side rail, not clear run and switched right approaching final furlong, 4th and one pace inside final furlong
led pair on near side rail and slight lead overall, ridden and edged right over 1f out, soon headed, weakened inside final furlong
chased leader in centre, slight lead and edged left just over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, headed final strides
tracked leaders in centre, every chance, ridden and chance entering final furlong, 3rd and held when slgihtly checked 100 yards out
led centre quartet and disputing overall lead, pushed along and headed 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
raced in centre, held up, good headway chasing leaders 2f out, not much room and squeezed through approaching final furlong, ran on inside final furlong, led final strides
METISIAN produced a really good effort to land a Doncaster handicap in the style of one capable of operating at a higher level. He steps up to Class 5 but there is the concern that he produced that greatly-improved run on soft ground and will face far quicker conditions here. Hopefully, he will prove effective upon them. Fellow three-year-old Yes You is temptingly weighted off bottomweight whilst Buccaneers Vault also makes appeal after suggesting that his turn is near in recent starts. He is down to a career-low mark despite a series of perfectly reasonable recent runs and is expected to get involved. Dark Forest should prove well suited by this return to sprinting and a drop in grade but has yet to confirm he's as effective on turf as artificial surfaces. He'll be a player if doing so.
Buccaneers Vault (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Meshardal (8-13) at Thirsk 6f hcp (5) gs in Jun.
Top of The Bank 10-1 (9-9) In touch, ridden and weakened 2f out, virtually pulled up final furlong, 9th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Related (10-0) at Nottingham 6f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Dark Forest 16-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, led over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 7th of 14, 8 1/2l behind Showboating (9-8) at Carlisle 1m hcp (4) gs in Jun.
Metisian 17-2 (9-4) Mid-division, driven and headway over 1f out, soon challenged, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Doncaster 6f hcp (6) sft in Jun beating Majestic Stone (8-11) by 2 1/4l, 17 ran.
Quiet Warrior (IRE) 4-1fav (9-5) Led, headed 3f out, lost place over 2f out, weakened, 13th of 14, 14 1/2l behind Yarmouk (9-1) at Newcastle 6f hcp (5) pol in Jun.
Yes You (IRE) 5-2fav (8-13) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and effort to chase winner on inside over 1f out, kept on same pace, held when lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Magic Journey (9-0) at Ayr 7f hcp (6) gs in Jul.
Indian Pursuit (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd briefly over 1f out, hung left and weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 5 1/2l behind Mininggold (9-7) at Pontefract 5f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
