slowly away, held up, steady headway over 4f out, went 2nd over 2f out, no chance with easy winner, clear 2nd best
took keen hold, led until 4f out, chased winner until over 2f out, weakened quickly
disputed 3rd place, until weakened over 2f out
raced away from inside rail, tracked leader, led 4f out, came clear final 2f, easily
started very slowly, well in rear, ridden on outside 3f out, never a factor
held up, headway on outside over 1f out, went modest 3rd inside final furlong
held up disputing 5th, until 4f out, weakened rapidly, tailed off
held up disputing 5th, effort on inside over 2f out, soon one pace
disputed close 3rd, pushed along over 3f out, one pace and no impression final 2f
There are two runners in this maiden that make their flat racing debuts but do have form at the winter game and, while Rubaa has looked little better than moderate in bumpers, FIX THE RIB has shown a decent level of form over fences and can make a winning debut on the level with the main danger looking to be Cairnsmore. The four-year-old makes his debut for Mark Johnston today having had just two starts in France in October 2008 but the son of Singspiel showed some promise there and he has to be respected with the stable in fine form. Ed Vaughan's Astronomer's Dream had little chance behind Rock A Doodle Doo at Lingfield last week and she may have to settle for a place at best with a bigger danger looking to be Mutajaaser. Kevin Morgan's gelding has only had the four runs so far and looks to be going the right way having been narrowly beaten in his last two starts on the Polytrack at Wolverhampton and here over a furlong shorter. Happy Fleet has been well beaten in recent starts over hurdles and was well beaten on his flat racing debut at Lingfield recently so looks best watched, while David Simcock's Onegin has only beaten one horse home in two starts in France. The vote then goes the way of Gary Moore's Fix The Rib, who has shown a decent level of form over fences of late having won a decent handicap at Ascot off a mark of 145 before falling behind Petit Robin at Kempton last month and he looks to have been found a suitable opportunity to open his account on the level.
Fix The Rib (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Led until mistake and headed 7th, weakened into 5th when fell 8th, in a race won by Petit Robin (11-4) at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Gospel Spirit 50-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden and weakened over 3f out, 9th of 11, well behind Stormy Summer (9-0) at Southwell 1m 4f mdn stks (5) fbs.
Mutajaaser (USA) 3-1 (9-5) Led, set steady pace, quickened over 2f out, strongly pressed from over 1f out, kept on well until headed near line and lost 2nd on post, 3rd of 8, hd behind Gheed (8-7) at Kempton 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol.
Cairnsmore (8-9) 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Varenar (9-2) at Compiegne(FR) 7f stk sft in Oct '08.
Rubaa (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Held up, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, tailed off, 7th of 8, 46l behind Dort Tranquille (11-5) at Southwell 1m 6f NH flat (4) std.
Happy Fleet 50-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, driven and headway over 2f out, soon beaten, 6th of 8, 17l behind Buxted (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol.
Blue Celeste 20-1 (8-13) Behind, struggling 4f out, tailed off, 6th of 8, 16l behind Pyrus Time (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Dec.
Onegin (SAF) 66-1 (9-0) Handy - faded, last of 12, 20l behind Middleton Hill (9-0) at Turffontein(SAF) 5f 2yo mdn gd in May.
Astronomer's Dream 16-1 (9-3) In rear, headway over 3f out, never able to challenge, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Rock A Doodle Doo (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
