close up, led 4 out, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
led, blundered and headed 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up
close up, led 5 out, headed 4 out, weakened before 3 out
in rear, headway before 5th to chase leaders, weakened from 3 out and pulled up
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, led last, held on well towards finish
in touch, headway before 4 out, led before 2 out, headed last, kept on and held towards finish
held up towards rear, blundered 6 out, pulled up before next
MONBEG RIVER made a winning start over fences at Perth in September and easily beat more experienced rivals over this course and distance on Monday. Martin Todhunter is trying to strike while the iron is hot with his novice, who can defy his penalty to complete the hat-trick. Robin's Command wins more than his fair share but, though he has won on soft going, he is undoubtedly better on quicker surface and has done most of his winning at Kelso and Perth. Aye Well and Imjoeking have both done well around here in the past, however, and make more appeal than Grate Fella. Oliver's Gold got back to winning ways at Wetherby earlier this month but will struggle to follow that up off a 6lb higher mark.
Imjoeking (IRE) 3-1fav (11-7) Raced shade keen, tracked leading pair, smooth headway on outside into 2nd before 3 out, challenged and every chance 3 out, found little after next and soon held, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Art Mauresque (11-8) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Robin's Command (IRE) 7-2fav (10-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led before 4 out, headed before last, kept on, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Simply Ned (11-12) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (2) gf in Oct.
Grate Fella (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, mistake 4 out soon outpaced, left 3rd and fell 3 out, at Ayr 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Aye Well 2-1fav (10-12) Jumped right, chased leading pair, 2nd 8th, led narrowly 4 out, in command 2 out, stayed on well, won at Ayr 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Pair Of Jacks (11-4) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Oliver's Gold 12-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, led last, kept on, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Notnowsam (10-8) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Monbeg River (IRE) 13-8fav (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 5 out, led 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Ayr 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Ballycool (11-3) by 8l, 7 ran.
Formidableopponent (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Towards rear, mistake 2nd, pushed along before 6 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, dist behind Monbeg River (11-7) at Ayr 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
