raced keen, saddle slipped early, led approaching 4th, headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, one pace under pressure
led, headed approaching 4th, weakened 4 out
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, effort next, stayed on well to lead run-in
mid-division, weakened halfway, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
in touch, headway 4 out, led approaching 2 out, headed run-in, kept on
towards rear, never dangerous
towads rear, never dangerous
close up, ridden 3 out, soon no extra
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon no impression
close up, outpaced 3 out, rallying when rider dropped whip approaching last, kept on
Money Trix can make a winning start for his new stable, with Some Touch, Troll and My Final Bid expected to make their presence felt. Nicky Richards is always worth following on this track, and this race has always been the first target for his exciting recruit Money Trix, second in a Navan bumper last April. By all accounts the son of Old Vic has schooled really well and is expected to take high order amongst the Greystoke novices this term. He gets seven-pound from Some Touch who is sure to have his supporters after making all at Musselburgh in December, but that was on faster ground and he will not be able to dominate in the same way here. Troll was successful in a Wetherby bumper in December 2004, and would surely have needed the experience when sixth in a novices's hurdle at the Yorkshire track in October. He will pick up a race or two in due course, while My Final Bid was only just denied in an Ayr bumper last month and is going the right way. If reports are correct though, Money Trix can be followed with confidence, and will make a bold bid on his first start on these shores.
Some Touch (IRE) 4-9fav (11-0) Made all, ridden approaching last, kept on flat, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (F) gf in Dec beating Rajayla (10-2) by 4l, 11 ran.
Bafana Boy 12-1 (11-12) pulled up in race won by Nimbu (11-12) at Aspatria 3m ptp gd in May, 9 ran.
Chief Dan George (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Birdwatch (10-11) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft, 11 ran.
Money Trix (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Mid-division, 8th halfway, 7th early straight, stayed on well to go moderate 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 11l behind Wheresben (11-7) at Navan 2m nhf hvy in Apr.
Musical Chord (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) In touch, pushed along and lost place halfway, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by According To John (10-12) at Newcastle 3m nh nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
My Final Bid (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on just held, 2nd of 19, hd behind Young Albert (11-4) at Ayr 2m nhf (H) sft in Dec.
Sotovik (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 17, 19l behind Hard Act To Follow (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Troll (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Held up, heeadway 4 out, ridden and one pace from next, 6th of 14, 29l behind Two Miles West (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (C) sft in Oct.
