tracked leaders until lost place from 4 out
led, headed 4th, led again approaching 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, soon weakened
tracked leaders and mistakes, led approaching last and hit, headed flat, kept on
held up, steady headway 4 out, led flat, driven out
with leader, led 4th, hit next, headed approaching 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
Abbaleen is bred to be useful and Howard Johnson's gelding has to be respected on his racecourse debut but he will need to be good to get the better of RIVINGTON PIKE, who has shown a decent level of form and he gets the vote with Motarid rated the best of the rest. The selection was nothing out of the ordinary on the level but John Quinn's gelding has already shown decent form since being put over hurdles having found just one too good in all three of his starts so far, latterly when chasing home Silk Drum at Kelso. A reproduction of that level of form may well suffice for the son of Catcher In The Rye. As well as Abbaleen, Howard Johnson is also represented by Pemberton but jockey bookings suggest that he is the lesser fancied of the two. George Moore's Harrison's Star has run creditably in his last two starts over hurdles and he makes more appeal than Bulas Boy, who has been well held in all four starts over timber. Abbaleen has to be of interest first time up but it is hard to get away from Rivington Pike, who gets the vote.
Abbaleen (IRE) Traditionally gelding out of 1m3f winner Savieres.
Bulas Boy 50-1 (10-12) Prominent, chased leaders approaching 3 out, beaten when fell 3 out in race won by La Fortalesa (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
Harrison's Star 11-2 (10-12) Close up, reminders 2nd, ridden and hit 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 13, 9l behind La Fortalesa (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Motarid (USA) 11-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden along over 4f out, soon beaten, 19th of 20, 33l behind Wells Lyrical (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct (Flat).
Pemberton Lomitas gelding out of Whitehaven.
Rivington Pike (IRE) 13-8fav (10-12) In touch, led after 3rd, reminders before next, driven and headed before last, ridden and kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 19l behind Silk Drum (10-9) at Kelso 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.