always towards rear
led 1st, soon headed but in touch until mistake 4 out, weakening when not fluent 3 out
prominent, led 4th, ridden 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
soon tailed off, pulled up before 4th
keen and prominent, slow jump 1st, weakening when mistake 2 out
prominent, jumped right and led 2nd, headed approaching 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
prominent until weakened approaching 3 out
held up in touch, mistake 4 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching last, ran on to lead close home
held up mid-division, headway 4th, led 2 out, ridden and edged left flat, headed close home
behind, hampered 1st, headway 4 out, weakened 3 out
keen, always towards rear, tailed off from 4 out
hampered 1st, soon ridden, mistake 4th, always behind
mid-division, ridden along 4th, soon in rear
A wide open contest here with very little between many of the leading lights but the principals look to be Back Among Friends, Regal Term and Turnberry Bay and the vote is given to Back Among Friends. The selection was a fair seventh in a better race behind Dream Alliance last time out. That horse has since franked the form and with this faster ground likely to bring about some improvement he is taken to score. Regal Term rates the main danger on his latest fifth behind Taking My Cut but that was over a longer trip and the drop in distance has to be of concern. Turnberry Bay is another worthy of respect on his debut fourth in a bumper behind Charin. He is sure to have been well schooled for this his hurdling debut and he should be watched in the market. Billy Bray could improve for the drop in trip and faster ground while Corble is another from a top yard that could improve but in a race where stakes should be keep to a minimum and where the market will be very informative for the winner we return to Back Among Friends to small stakes.
Billy Bray 100-1 (10-12) Prominent ridden 8th, soon weakened pulled up 2 out in race won by The Luder (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar, 15 ran.
Corble (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Held up, headway approaching 6th, weakened 2 out, 8th of 14, 28l behind Oscatello (11-9) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Golden Crew 40-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, every chance approaching 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 5th of 15, 12l behind Secured (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gf in Jan.
Lyster (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, struggling approaching 7th, 6th of 13, 49l behind Calusa Charlie (11-2) at Newbury 3m nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Regal Term (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 14, 18l behind Taking My Cut (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Turnberry Bay (FR) 14-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 17, 12l behind Chaim (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) hvy in Mar.
Barfleur (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Behind, struggling 4th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Sonnengold (11-2) at Lingfield 2m mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
Back Among Friends 10-1 (11-5) Led, jumping left, headed before 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 47l behind Dream Alliance (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
