made all, ridden and ran on final furlong
tracked leading pair, ridden halfway, chased winner approaching final furlong, kept on, not pace to challenge
keen, tracked leading pair, ridden and hung right over 1f out, no impression after
went right start, chased winner, ridden and edged left over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
A small field where just two pounds separates four of the five runners; narrow preference is for DARK LANE albeit with the warning that he needs to forget about a midfield finish at Newmarket last time. The selection already has a win at the track to his name, with that success coming over six furlongs here in August of 2008. Now dropped back to five furlongs, this speedy son of Namid is reunited with Jamie Spencer and expected to take all the beating in this easier race. Mattamia had a weak Leicester race wrapped up from an early stage last time and will find this tougher despite his obvious well-being, whilst Avertor was impressive when winning at Doncaster last time but he didn't beat too much there and will have needed to have improved to win off this mark of 83. Olynard shaped with much more promise last time and this minimum trip looks to be his optimum trip; he has no problems with quick ground and is unlikely to be far away. Fantasy Gladiator completes the field but he needs to improve markedly on his handicap bow at Sandown a week ago, and so it is Dark Lane who is fancied to lead them home.
Mattamia (IRE) 9-4fav (9-3) Made all, shaken up 2f out, ridden clear, ran on final furlong, won at Leicester 5f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf beating Red Rosanna (8-9) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Dark Lane 6-1 (8-9) Pulled hard in mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 13, 7l behind Bouvardia (9-3) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gf in May.
Avertor 3-10fav (9-3) Made all, shaken up and quickened over 1f out, ran on final furlong comfortably, won at Doncaster 5f mdn stks (4) gs beating She's In The Money (8-10) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Fantasy Gladiator 16-1 (9-4) Behind, ridden along over 2f out, never reached leaders, one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 9, 7l behind Sharpened Edge (9-6) at Sandown 5f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Olynard (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Pulled hard, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, not much room, hampered and squeezed through inside final furlong, kept on, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind The Jobber (9-11) at Salisbury 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.