in touch and keen, headway 5th, every chance approaching 2 out, held when fell next
made most, challenged approaching 2 out, ridden and kept on
mid-division and keen, weakened 5th, pulled up before 2 out
in rear and keen, mistake 4th, left poor 3rd when refused 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, held soon after
tracked leaders, close up when fell 3 out
towards rear, headway 4th, in touch when badly hampered and stopped to a walk and pulled up soon after
prominent, lost place 4th, in rear when badly hampered 5th, left remote 3rd, 2 out, finished last
Psycho Cat can follow up his course-and-distance success at the expense of stablemate Is It Me, Canopus and Nike Walker. Paul Blockley sets a poser here by saddling no less than three runners, and preference is for Psycho Cat, with Faye Bramley able to call on her 7lb claim. That will help to offset the fact that the selection meets Canopus on six-pound worse terms for the three-lengths that separated them here a fortnight ago, and as he will have learnt from the experience, Psycho Cat will hopefully prevail on merit. Granted, he would probably not have won last time had the favourite Chess Board not thrown away his chance by unshipping Richard Johnson in the straight, but he stuck to his task well enough, and in addition to Canopus, also had Nike Walker behind. There was a bit of a whisper for Pipe's charge before his Market Rasen debut the time before, but he surely needs more cut in the ground before siding with. Is It Me has won his three outings over timber by a combined total of 57 lengths, but has most weight to carry now so Blockley has put Paul Stringer up to help with his claim, with Mark Bradburne switching to newcomer Mambo Sun who was no great shakes on the Flat. Any support for him would be significant though, and he may reach the frame at least. For the answer we return to Psycho Cat.
Psycho Cat 20-1 (10-10) Held up, headway 6th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, jumped left 2 out, left in lead, hampered by loose horse approaching last, kept on, won at N Abbot 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd beating Canopus (10-10) by 3l, 10 ran.
Canopus 4-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden and headway after 3 out, chased leader 2 out, every chance after last, hung left and weakened, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Psycho Cat (10-10) at N Abbot 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd.
Chisom 66-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, always behind, tailed off final 3f, last of 14, well behind Stolen Glance (8-8) at Southwell 1m 3yo hcp (6) fbs in Apr (Flat).
Compton Flyer 50-1 (10-10) Towards rear and keen, ridden 5th, virtually refused and pulled up 2 out in race won by Psycho Cat (10-10) at N Abbot 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd, 10 ran.
Mambo Sun 7-1 (9-2) Led, headed over 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Prince Picasso (9-13) at Carlisle 1m 1f 3yo hcp (5) frm in Jul (Flat).
Nike Walker (FR) 3-1 (10-10) Mid-division, some progress after 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 10, 14l behind Psycho Cat (10-10) at N Abbot 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd.
Wensleydale Star 5-2fav (8-8) Prominent, switched right over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 6l behind Alwaysforsale (9-1) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo sll hcp (6) gf (Flat).
Is It Me (USA) 4-11fav (11-10) Led to after 1st, tracked leader, led again 4th, drew clear between last 2, comfortably, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf beating Princess Toto (10-3) by 25l, 11 ran.