took keen hold, tracked leading pair, pushed along and edging left 2f out, ridden hung left and one pace over 1f out, no impression, left in modest 3rd inside final furlong
dwelt, held up last, pushed along over 3f out, no progress, left in never dangerous 4th final 100 yards
took keen hold, tracked winner 1f, settled in 4th on inside, headway and squeezed through into 2nd entering final furlong, led narrowly well inside final furlong, headed final strides
took keen hold, led until 5f out, pressed leader, led again 1f out and edged left, narrowly headed well inside final furlong, rallied to lead again last strides
took keen hold, 2nd after 1f, led 5f out, ridden over 1f out, headed 1f out, soon badly hampered and dropped to 3rd, eased, not recover
Lu's Buddy has only raced on fast ground once when producing his best run so far in a Windsor maiden. Tartan Trip is regarded as a Southwell specialist these days and it's a very long time since he showed any real form on Turf. AJIG is just 2lb higher than when landing a handicap at Sandown in September. That form would be good enough for this so hopefully he'll be ready after his winter break. Gannicus landed a Bath maiden last May though showed little subsequently but World Record is well handicapped on the form he showed early last summer and isn't out of this.
Lu's Buddy (GR) 12-1 (9-5) Tracked leader 3f, prominent, pushed along 3f out, driven and hung left over 1f out, went modest 3rd and not pace of leading duo inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 8l behind Collaboration (9-7) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Tartan Trip 3-1fav (8-7) Towards rear, headway over 4f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Vivat Rex (9-5) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-80 (4) fbs in Mar.
Ajig 12-1 (9-1) Mid-divison on outside, effort on outside under pressure over 1f out, weakened final 100 yards, 7th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Tides Reach (9-3) at Kempton 1m fll hcp (0-75) (3yo+) (5) pol in Oct.
Gannicus 10-3fav (9-7) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, under pressure before halfway, headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly closing stages, nearest finish, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Sea Soldier (8-12) at Chelmsford City 1m app hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) pol in Feb.
World Record (IRE) 9-1 (8-13) Led, hard driven when headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 7l behind Sea Soldier (8-12) at Chelmsford City 1m app hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) pol in Feb.
