held up in touch, hampered 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened last
tracked leader, mistake 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, modest 4th
held up in touch, headway into 2nd after 3 out, ridden to challenge last, kept on same pace flat
led until 3 out, lost place before next, tailed off
tracked leaders, hit 4 out, led next, hard driven when pressed approaching last, all out
With Richard Johnson in the saddle Bronco Billy, who won a bumper here just over a year ago, may go off at short odds. But he's no certainty given his absence as WESTERN RULES, another bumper winner, possibly found 2m7f a shade too far on his hurdling debut and will put up plenty of resistance. Along Came Theo looks the pick of the remainder having been placed twice in NH Flat races, though he's another with a lengthy lay-off to overcome.
Along Came Theo (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, outpaced in 3rd over 3f out, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair from over 2f out, 3rd of 7, 11 3/4l behind Junius Brutus (11-4) at Catterick 2m (6) gs in Dec.
Bolton Blue (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place halfway, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Hexham 3m mdn (5) gd in Apr.
Bronco Billy (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on well, won at Carlisle 2m 1f (6) sft in Nov beating Corner Creek (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Forty Something (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear and keen, reminders after 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 17, dist behind Yurok (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) sft in Oct.
Western Rules (IRE) 1-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden before last, hung left briefly run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Jonniesofa (10-12) at Kelso 2m 7f (4) sft in Nov.
