made all, quickened over 3f out, driven clear final 2f
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon outpaced
chased leaders, weakened final 2f
chased leaders, chased winner over 3f out, one pace
with winner, ridden over 4f out, soon lost place
held up in rear, outpaced over 6f out
Massasoit won in decent fashion on his debut at Catterick on very testing ground and with conditions likely to be pretty similar today he looks the one to beat, although market support for Bold Ransom may be worth taking heed of. Malcolm Jefferson's five-year-old will have to shoulder a penalty for that win but the manner of his victory suggests it should prove no problem in this weak-looking contest. Sodantay is the other horse in the lineup to have been seen on a racecourse however he was well-beaten behind a very useful sort of Len Lungo's and will need to step up significantly today. Keith Reveley's Bold Ransom is the most interesting of the newcomers especially as he has only had a handful of bumper runners at the track before, whilst Salveo is another who should be watched in the betting. Overall this looks pretty uncompetitive and Massasoit gets the confident vote.
Massasoit (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Mid-division, driven along 4f out, headway over 3f out, led 2f out, stayed on well to draw clear inside final furlong, won at Catterick 2m mdn nhf (5) hvy in Feb beating Hey Charlie (10-12) by 6l, 15 ran.
Bold Ransom (IRE) Lord of Appeal gelding, half-brother to winning chaser Giolla An Bhaird.
Quartergill I'm Supposin gelding, half-brother to winning chaser Brer Bear.
Salveo (IRE) Saddlers' Hall gelding out of 1m & hurdles winner Devil Worship.
Sodantay (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened over 6f out, soon beaten, 6th of 8, 35l behind Berwick Law (11-9) at Ayr 2m nhf (6) hvy.
First Stop Chocolat de Meguro gelding out of winning hurdler One Stop.
