in touch, ridden to challenge over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
pulled hard, soon led, headed over 7f out, led again over 4f out, ridden when edged left 1f out, ran on
led early, prominent, ridden over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, soon edged right, not quicken towards finish
prominent, outpaced 3f out, rallied over 1f out, one pace final furlong
held up and keen, headway after 3f, weakened 6f out
held up and keen, clipped heel and stumbled over 8f out, headway to lead over 7f out to over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
pulled hard, mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
Flinders Bay should relish this drop in grade to beat Brave Rebellion and Knighton Lad. Eighth in a Grade Two bumper at Newbury, he looked an interesting recruit beforehand and should give a more than fair account of himself against weaker opposition. Brave Rebellion is certainly not here to make up the numbers. He will make a useful hurdler in time and his chances will be greatly helped if Jim Crowley can settle him in the early stages. On a strict line of form he does hold Knighton Lad based on that runner's recent performance in a bumper at Doncaster in January. Letsplay ran no sort of race when well backed at Ludlow last time out. Three Counties was a very expensive two-year-old when sold for 360 000 guineas. The fact he went through the sales ring at 4 500 just one year later probably says it all. Of the remainder, Needwood Scot, a half-brother to the useful Needwood Spirit, is watched in the market.
