tracked leaders, led 8th, headed last, soon weakened
led, reminders approaching 6th, headed 8th, chased leaders, weakened 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 8th, soon weakened, pulled up before last
tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, pushed along approaching 8th, soon lost place, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, weakened after 8th
held up in rear, headway from 8th, soon tracked leaders, went 2nd after 2 out, led next, soon clear, readily
tracked leaders, weakened from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
held up towards rear, weakened after 8th
held up towards rear, headway approaching 8th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
MILANS MAN looks practically unopposable in this grade and it seems that Club Class and Only The Best are the horses that will be chasing the forecast slot. Rated 127, the presence of Milans Man has pretty much scared off any of the meaningful opposition. He does have to give a stone away to his rivals but the way in which he disposed of his rivals at Catterick told us that he is still very much on the upgrade. Club Class didn't stay 3m3f at Sedgefield on his latest outing. He looks the type who could win handicaps but he faces an uphill struggle against the market leader. Only The Best finished ahead of him at that aforementioned contest. The handicapper believes that he has regressed this season with a notional mark of 106 compared to the 115 he rated him after finishing second to Whats Up Woody earlier in the year. Blue Abbey is eligible for handicaps beyond this run so might be worth watching for today. Barr Head had winning form in point to points so the step up in trip is hardly a negative this afternoon. Hard to oppose Milans Man on what we have seen thus far so we seek not to.
Milans Man (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Held up, headway and in touch 5th, led 8th, hard pressed 2 out, soon ridden, edged right flat, held on under pressure near finish, won at Catterick 3m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Tilt (11-5) by 1l, 9 ran.
Barr Head (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, pushed along 7f out, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 13th of 17, well behind Seren Rouge (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs.
Blue Abbey (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Prominent, lost place 6f out, 8th of 14, 46l behind Rocks Rule (11-4) at Newcastle 2m NH flat (6) sft.
Cloud Buster 250-1 (11-3) Held up up towards rear, pushed along approaching 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, tailed off, in a race won by Whats Up Woody (11-10) at Carlisle 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs, 8 ran.
Club Class 9-2fav (11-10) Led until 9th, chased leaders until weakened before 3 out, eased when no chance before next, 6th of 8, 41l behind Oniz Tiptoes (10-8) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Only The Best 7-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, driven along in 4th after 3 out, no impression next, no chance when pecked last, 4th of 8, 24l behind Oniz Tiptoes (10-8) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
To The Bar Bob (IRE) Abou Zouz gelding out of Colmarann.
Bach Street Girl (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, weakened 4f out, 11th of 17, 46l behind Seren Rouge (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs.
Watch The Wind 66-1 (10-4) In rear, blundered 9th, fell heavily 13th, in a race won by Or de Grugy (10-7) at Kelso 2m 6f Amateur Handicap Chase (0-135) (5yo+) (3) sft in Feb, 6 ran.
Valonty 125-1 (10-13) Behind, ridden 4th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 6th, in a race won by Double Expresso (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft, 9 ran.
