held up in touch, challenged 4 out, led before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on, driven out
tracked leaders, ridden before 3 out, kept on and no impression
tracked leader, led 6 out, pushed along and headed before 3 out, kept on
led, headed 6 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 15th
held up behind, weakened before 4 out
held up towards rear, weakened before 6 out, soon pulled up
BRODY BLEU certainly wasn't winning out of turn at Newton Abbot last month. He's been raised 6lb for that but is almost guaranteed to run his race again, which is more than you can say about many of his rivals. Friendly Society, De Blacksmith, Southway Star, Venetian Lad and Midnight Charmer are all course winners, however, and any of the quintet could make life interesting if on a going day.
Brody Bleu (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden and pressed from 2 out, kept on run-in, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar beating Olympian Boy (10-1) by 5l, 6 ran.
Friendly Society (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, dived at 2nd, pushed along before 7th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th before the last, 4th of 11, 22l behind Maller Tree (11-1) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
De Blacksmith (IRE) 9-1 (10-2) With leader, led 2nd, clear before next until after 4th, headed 7th, still close up when mistake and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Jimmy The Jetplane (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 4f con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
Southway Star 10-1 (10-11) Held up in rear but in touch, struggling after 9th, soon detatched, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Unknown Legend (9-13) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd, 5 ran.
Venetian Lad 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, under pressure 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, well behind Rhapando (11-11) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
Midnight Charmer 25-1 (11-4) Last pair, struggling in rear 13th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Gunna Be A Devil (11-3) at Taunton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar, 9 ran.
