dwelt, held up, ridden and weakened 3f out
in touch, ridden to chase leader over 2f out, edged left approaching final furlong, driven to lead inside final furlong
led, came towards centre entering straight over 3f out, soon ridden, driven 2f out, headed inside final furlong, edged left and no extra
tracked leader until over 2f out, ridden and soon weakened, eased final furlong
Nonrunner
GIBB RIVER gets the confident vote in this maiden over Dark Quest and Bernie The Bolt. The selection shapes as though this step up in trip will suit and he lost no caste in defeat last time out when he chased home Times Up at Pontefract. He has the best form on show here and he looks to have been found a good opportunity to shed his maiden tag. Dark Quest looks the chief danger as she was a decent second behind Dove over 1m2f at Pontefract last time out. There should be more to come and she is another who should be suited by today's longer trip. Bernie The Bolt is dropped in distance after running well from 5lbs out of the handicap at Ascot last time over 2m. He should not be too far away at the finish again here, while De Soto is having only his second start on the level so he should not be dismissed lightly. Gibb River sets the benchmark for the others here and should prove tough to beat.
De Soto 14-1 (10-0) Slowly away, in rear, chased leaders halfway, one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 7, 6l behind Doggerbank (8-9) at Warwick 1m 5f mdn stks (5) gf in Jul.
Bernie The Bolt (IRE) 8-1 (7-9) Held up in last trio, headway under pressure on wide outside over 2f out, plugged on into moderate 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Alanbrooke (8-5) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Jul.
Gibb River (IRE) 6-5fav (8-13) Tracked leader, led over 5f out, ridden and headed 2f out, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Times Up (8-13) at Pontefract 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gs in Jul.
Dark Quest 11-4 (8-10) Tracked leader, ridden, every chance, flashed tail from over 1f out, hung right inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Dove (9-7) at Pontefract 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gs in Jul.
Eddystone (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) In touch, weakened straight and soon well behind, 10th of 12, 25l behind Moonshine Beach (9-3) at Kempton 2m hcap (6) pol in Jun '08.