chased leaders, led 4 out, driven out
held up, pushed along halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, led approaching 6th, headed 4 out, weakened quickly 2 out
chased leaders, outpaced 7th, kept on from 2 out
chased leader, weakened 6th
led, headed approaching 6th, weakened 7th, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, pushed along and lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, weakened approaching 6th
in touch, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, one pace from last
always behind, pulled up before 2 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, lost place 5th, kept on from 2 out
Ring The Boss is likely to be popular with the backers following a comfortable success in a handicap here over two miles last month but the return to a novice race with the burden of a penalty leaves Alan Swinbank's gelding with a less straight-forward task and, at the likely odds, preference is for Autograph ahead of Wee Bertie. The selection, a progressive bumper performer, ran with credit on his hurdles debut when a fair fourth behind the useful Theatre Diva at Market Rasen when last seen in May and, with improvement to come, she looks worth chancing. Shelomoh has yet to translate bumper form over hurdles and is probably best watched, while Primitive Academy, a maiden on the level, would not need to be out of the ordinary to make a winning debut over hurdles but is hard to recommend with any confidence. That's Rhythm showed promise here last month and warrants respect along with Howard Johnson's Wee Bertie. Autograph has solid claims though and a chance is taken with her fitness.
Ring The Boss (IRE) 11-10fav (9-13) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, kept on well, won at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan beating Charlotte Vale (11-4) by 4l, 5 ran.
