in touch and keen, one pace final 2f
held up towards rear, headway 6f out, ridden to chase leaders 3f out, one pace
mid-division, keen, weakened over 6f out
mid-division, ridden and weakened halfway
in touch until weakened halfway
led, headed 6f out, weakened 2f out
towards rear, headway to chase leaders 6f out, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 5f out, weakened 3f out
prominent and keen, led 6f out, headed 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, every chance 2f out, hung left and no extra well inside final furlong
in touch, ridden over 6f out, led 3f out, edged left from 2f out, kept on very game
mid-division, ridden over 4f out, no impression
held up, headway 6f out, ridden 4f out, faded final furlong
This is impossible to fathom with so many unknown quantities, so only a most tentative vote goes to Farmers Lad over a whole host of interesting newcomers including Youll Do For Me, Winds And Dragons and Oiseau de Nuit. Farmers Lad at least has fitness on his side, having posted a fair second at Uttoxeter last month, and being from the same family as Lady Rebecca, he will no doubt make up into a nice hurdler in time. However, there are plenty here that could be potentially better, not least Youll Do For Me, whose trainer has a 26% strike-rate in this sphere. Any support for Winds And Dragons should be noted, while Three Guesses hails from a very-much in-form stable. Oiseau de Nuit runs in the famous yellow colours of Terry Warner, and who knows, could turn out to be another Rooster Booster or Detroit City one day, so with so much untapped potential on view, only a small wager is advised on Farmers Lad.
Farmer's Lad (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up, headway over 6f out, every chance 2f out, soon ridden, edged left inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 11, 2l behind St Wilfrid (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) sft in Oct.
Fountain Fortune 50-1 (11-0) Held up, towards rear, headway 6f out, chased leaders over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 12, 13l behind Earth Planet (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gd in Oct.
Lose The Attitude (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Led 4 out, soon drew clear, won at Ballysteen 3m ire ptp gs in Apr beating Mack The Knight (12-0) by 8l, 15 ran.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) Evening World gelding out of a moderate racemare.
Stripe Me Blue 66-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 3f out, ran on final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Kicks For Free (11-6) at Wincanton 2m nhf (6) gd in Feb.
Three Guesses (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, outpaced 4f out, driven and stayed on same pace final 2f, 4th of 14, 10l behind Jean Le Poisson (10-11) at Newbury 2m nhf (5) gs in Mar.
Winds And Dragons (IRE) Taipan gelding out of a lightly-raced maiden.
Youll Do For Me (IRE) Beneficial gelding, half-brother to winning hurdler Aztec Warrior.
