held up towards rear, headway 3rd, led 7th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened flat
held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 7th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
led, jumped left 2nd and 3rd, headed 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, ridden and hit last, no extra flat
held up, pushed along approaching 7th, headway between last 2, kept on
saddle slipped, pulled up before 1st
tracked leaders, tailed off from 9th, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 7th, weakening when fell 3 out
with leader, outpaced from 7th, headway 2 out, stayed on well to lead flat
held up, tracked leaders after 6th, led approaching 3 out, headed flat, soon weakened
tracked leaders, jumped left 1st, held up towards rear, reminders after 7th, tailed off from 3 out
The Howard Johnson team is in fine fettle so it may be worth siding with RIVER MUSIC in an interesting opener where Doc Wells and Only The Best are amongst those considered. The son of Flemensfirth attracted support ahead of his debut in a bumper where he ran respectably to finish fourth despite stumbling. The yard's strike rate at this track with its hurdlers is better than one in three and River Music is sure to have been schooled proficiently. Doc Wells has the advantage of a run over obstacles and seems certain to relish the step up in trip on this stiffer track but the bare form is not exceptional. Only The Best was fairly prominent in the market for both of his runs in bumpers which is relatively unusual for horses from this yard so the winning Irish pointer may well have been pleasing connections at home. He's more interesting than Joe's A Boy who has something to prove at present but we'll row in with River Music.
Bayfirth (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Held up, headway to chase leaders 7th, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 18, 34l behind Delightfully (11-11) at Newcastle 3m 4yo cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Doc Wells (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) In touch, outpaced after 2 out, driven, stayed on well flat, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Dais Return (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Grande Monsieur (IRE) 18-1 (11-3) Led 2nd, headed 6th, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Delightfully (11-11) at Newcastle 3m 4yo cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan, 18 ran.
Joe's A Boy (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) In touch, mistake and lost place briefly 7th, no impression from 9th, 4th of 12, 19l behind Sprosser (10-12) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Only The Best 5-2fav (11-4) Led for 5f, remained close up, outpaced over 5f out, rallied over 3f out, one pace final 2f, 4th of 16, 8l behind Malakai (10-12) at Hexham 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Soft Spoken Guy (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, tracked leaders approaching 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakened from next, 3rd of 8, 24l behind Carsonstown Boy (11-5) at Perth 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
The Client (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Towards rear, jumped slowly 4th, weakened from 8th, 8th of 16, well behind Simple Glory (11-11) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Western Sahara (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Always behind, 7th of 11, 22l behind Papa Caruso (11-1) at Hexham 2m NH flat (6) gd.
Alora Money 14-1 (10-10) In rear, struggling after 3rd, 4th of 14, 34l behind Jokers Legacy (11-3) at Southwell 3m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Dree Hill (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, held up, headway after 4th, went 2nd after next, every chance 3 out, beaten when hit 2 out, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Cooksgrove Lady (11-10) at Bangor 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Tia Tara 50-1 (10-7) Held up in 4th, mistake 1st, lost place approaching 5th, behind from 7th, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Cooksgrove Lady (11-10) at Bangor 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
River Music (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) With leaders, stumbled after 3f, kept on same pace from over 3f out, 4th of 9, 11l behind Ceasar's Return (10-10) at Newcastle 2m NH flat (6) gs in Mar.
