disputed lead at slow pace to before 5th, tracked winner, outpaced when ridden after 3 out, lost 2nd before next, no chance after
held up in rear, tracked leading pair before 3 out, went 2nd before next, outpaced between last 2, no chance after
set slow pace, made virtually all, quickened 3 out, pushed clear when mistake last, ridden out, comfortably
tracked front pair to before 3 out, soon outpaced, well held before next
Harry Fry’s team was in brilliant form at Punchestown last week and his Steel Bob is an interesting runner here having been thrown in at the deep end over hurdles at Cheltenham at the start of the year. For Instance landed the odds at Wetherby last month after a couple of near-misses but has to give 7lb to his rivals, including CRIQ ROCK. Placed behind some very useful novices over the winter, Alan King’s charge didn’t handle soft going when last seen at Ascot in February and is fancied to open his account today. Monkey Puzzle can only improve on his second at Doncaster but Follow The Bear will need to improve on two runs at Bangor at the end of last year to figure in this.
For Instance (IRE) 8-11fav (11-2) Chased leaders, driven to challenge 3 out, every chance last, ran on to lead closing stages, driven out, won at Wetherby 3m (4) gd in Apr beating Quietly (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Criq Rock (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Held up in last trio, not fluent 4th, pushed along and outpaced on long run before 2 out, 7th of 8, 27 1/4l behind Beyond Conceit (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f (2) sft in Feb.
Follow The Bear (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, 2nd 5th until ridden before 2 out, no extra last, 3rd of 10, 10 1/4l behind Back To The Thatch (10-12) at Bangor 2m 7f (3) sft in Dec.
Steel Bob (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) In rear, slow and behind 2nd, not fluent and struggling 5th, tailed off 7th, pulled up after, at Cheltenham 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Jan.
Monkey Puzzle 3-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, good headway before 3 out, soon tracking leader, led 2 out, went right and narrowly headed last, driven and stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Just Milly (10-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gd in Dec.
