led, headed before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, kept on to lead towards finish
tracked leaders in 3rd, fell 4 out
tracked winner, led before 4 out, ridden and clear before 3 out, headed towards finish, kept on
Fayette County was left in front two out when tackling just short of three miles at Newcastle but got very tired and hardly got over the last before being outstayed. That was a race run at a very fast pace and a more sedate gallop could see him back in the winners' enclosure. However, DELUSIONOFGRANDEUR won a better race than this over the course and distance in December before running well for a long way in a Wetherby Grade 2 earlier this month and should return to winning ways in this much lesser grade. The Bay Oak was very consistent over hurdles and made a bright start over the bigger obstacles at Hereford when caught close home by Wild West Wind and can make a bold bid to go one better.
Delusionofgrandeur (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, not fluent 5th, blundered 10th, led again soon after, headed 5 out, outpaced when left 3rd next, blundered 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 6, dist behind Baywing (11-0) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Fayette County (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, closed 10th, jumped right 12th, ridden after 15th, 2nd from 4 out, left in clear lead 2 out, slowed up markedly into last, went badly right at fence, bumped rival and headed, no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Alto Des Mottes (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
The Bay Oak (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) With leaders, left in lead 11th, soon hard pressed, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Wild West Wind (11-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
