chased leaders, ridden and headway 3f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear
held up, headway halfway, stayed on the same pace final 2
mid division, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace final 2f
chased leaders, lost place halfway, well behind 4f out, stayed on strongly final 2f
set strong pace, headed after 6f, ridden and weakened 4f out
held up, ridden and lost place over 3f out
held up, headway over 3f, soon ridden and beaten
with leader, led after 6f, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
Dark Energy may be worth another chance in this contest although the likes of Alonso De Guzman and Thorny Mandate have more obvious claims. The selection won a modest maiden handicap for Brian Smart before embarking on a hurdling career for his current stable. He made the frame on a couple of occasions before running well on his return to the Flat at Nottingham when just in front of Apache Fort. He has since flopped at Newbury but may be worth another chance. Alonso De Guzman has gone up by 3lbs for his narrow defeat to Daylami Dreams at Newmarket but that was a better race than this and proved that he stays the trip; he's a leading player. York Cliff may have benefited from his claiming success but stablemate Thorny Mandate has been threatening to return to winning ways of late and may emerge as a bigger threat. Jim Boyle's runner is sure to be popular but we'll take a chance with Dark Energy.
Alonso de Guzman (IRE) 11-1 (8-5) Tracked leader, ridden to lead 2f out, headed and kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Daylami Dreams (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
Dark Energy 12-1 (8-9) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, no danger final 2f, last of 11, 13l behind Alnwick (9-0) at Newbury 2m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jul.
Apache Fort 10-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, one pace final 2f, 6th of 11, 3l behind Spring Dream (11-7) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Jul.
Depraux (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, no extra final furlong, 9th of 11, 5l behind Spring Dream (11-7) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Jul.
Petrosian 66-1 (9-11) Held up behind, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, well behind final 2f, last of 10, 22l behind Le Chiffre (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol in Jul.
York Cliff 9-2 (9-4) Held up, steady headway over 5f out, led over 2f out, clear over 1f out, ran on, won at W'hampton 1m 4f clm (6) pol in Jul beating Bainisteoir (8-6) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Thorny Mandate 9-2 (9-4) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, ran on final furlong, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Trip The Light (8-7) at Beverley 1m 4f hcap (5) gf in Jul.
Don Jose (USA) 40-1 (8-0) Steadied start, towards rear, effort over 4f out, never troubled leaders, 13th of 15, 18l behind Let It Be (8-7) at Redcar 1m 6f app hcp (5) gf in Jul.