tracked leader, ridden to lead before 3 out, stayed on well from last, eased close home
tracked leaders in 3rd and keen, ridden before 2 out, chased winner run-in, no impression
held up in touch, weakened before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, pushed along after 4th, never dangerous
in touch on outer, pushed along before 5th, weakened 4 out
led, ridden and headed before 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on from next, no impression
held up towards rear, headway after 4th, chased winner before 3 out, soon ridden, weakened run-in
in touch, lost place and in rear before 4th, never dangerous
Bishops Heir has an absence to overcome but that shouldn't pose too much of a problem as he's won after a break in the past. However, he has a little to find with Cool Operator on a line through the latter's Musselburgh conqueror Pyracantha, though Howard Johnson's charge may prefer a longer trip. Teenage Idol began his handicap career over timber from a mark of 127 but was down to 105 when scoring very easily at Ayr. The handicapper has seen fit to raise him a massive 15lb for that and he may struggle with the extra burden. Princess Rainbow is 10lb higher than when scoring at Hereford in November but is no forlorn hope as she's been racing over longer trips subsequently. Another with a big weight rise to contend with is ROLECARR, a very easy winner on heavy ground at Hexham in November and subsequently a close second at Newcastle. He didn't get far at Musselburgh last time but hasn't had too much racing and is the type to make progress.
Cool Operator 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not much room on inner before 3 out, soon switched left and headway, not fluent last, kept on well towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Pyracantha (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Teenage Idol (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led before 3 out, clear before 2 out, kept on well, eased towards finish, won at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jan beating Quacity (11-9) by 9l, 17 ran.
Bishops Heir 7-4fav (11-8) Tracked leading pair, driven and outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on same pace from last, lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 14, 7l behind Pyracantha (10-13) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Grandad Bill (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 7th, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 13, 21l behind Santa's Son (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
Bureaucrat 40-1 (10-4) Held up mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, plugged on from 3 out, no impression, 5th of 13, 18l behind Hunterview (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft.
Princess Rainbow (FR) 14-1 (11-6) Led, blundered 3rd, soon headed, led again 5th, headed after 8th, beaten before 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 10th of 15, 28l behind Ocean Transit (10-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f mares hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Rolecarr (IRE) 7-2 (10-5) Disputed 2nd, not fluent and driven 8th, with leaders when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Devotion To Duty (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft, 6 ran.
Shooting Times 25-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, some headway approaching last, never on terms, no impression, 5th of 11, 22l behind Blenheim Brook (10-12) at Hexham 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) hvy in Nov.
