held up, headway 6th, effort to chase winner 2 out, ridden and stayed on flat
tracked leader until led 5th, made rest, ridden 2 out, pressed last, driven out
always in rear
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace
in touch, chased winner 6th until 2 out, ridden and soon weakened
jumped right, led, headed 5th, ridden 6th and soon weakened, tailed off from 3 out, finished in own time
held up in touch, effort 2 out, ridden to go 3rd flat, never dangerous
pulled hard towards rear, headway 6th, ridden and weakened after 2 out
Not for the first time, Peppertree Lane failed to justify strong market support at Newton Abbot earlier this month. This is a lot less competitive and Peter Bowen's eight-year-old has the ability to win a race of this nature but will probably find at least one too good again. BEGGAR'S OPERA is lightly raced and has won on the Flat. His hurdling debut at Plumpton was too bad to be true and it would be no surprise if Jim Best's four-year-old bounced back to land this with McCoy taking over in the saddle. Thundering Home has also won on the level but that was a long time ago, though he's still preferred to platers Sirjosh and Sheila's Castle.
Big Bad Boo 50-1 (9-1) Soon led, headed 9f out, losing place when short of room on inside over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Alubari (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec (flat).
Peppertree Lane (IRE) 11-2fav (10-7) Tracked leader, left in lead before 5th, headed after 2 out (usual 3 out), soon ridden, weakened flat, 7th of 12, 33l behind Kylenoe Fairy (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Sirjosh 9-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 2 out, kept on flat, not reach leaders, 5th of 14, 6l behind Solway Blue (9-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Apr.
Beggar's Opera (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Chased leader, jumped slowly 2nd, lost 2nd next, stayed in touch until weakened before 3 out, eased soon after, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Kilburn (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf.
Thundering Home 66-1 (10-12) Held up, lost touch with leaders after 3rd, blundered 4th, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind A Media Luz (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4yo hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Hettie Hubble 50-1 (8-2) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 10l behind Bold Marc (9-0) at Hamilton 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gd (flat).
Lady Treacle (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Towards rear, mistake and reminder 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Lucky Mix (11-0) at Southwell 3m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Sheila's Castle 16-1 (10-5) In rear, headway 3 out, kept on under pressure, never on terms, 4th of 10, 8l behind Goodwood Starlight (10-9) at Fakenham 2m 4yo mdn stks (4) gd in Mar.
Ajool (USA) 33-1 (10-0) In rear, headway to 4th at 6th, ridden 3 out, held when fell next, in a race won by Looks Like Slim (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 4yo hdl (4) gf in Apr, 6 ran.
Silver Astralis 100-1 (9-7) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Leopard Hills (10-13) at Stratford 2m sell hdl (5) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
