led, edged right over 7f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch in rear, headway going well over 2f out, led 1f out, ridden out
tracked leaders on outside, pushed along over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, weakened and hung left over 1f out
held up in touch in 5th, headway over 3f out, led 2f out, edged left and headed 1f out, held towards finish
pressed leader, led over 2f out, soon headed, still close up 1f out, no extra towards finish
held up in touch, ridden 2f out, 4th and outpaced by leaders over 1f out
This is probably a decent bumper for the time of year. Warren Greatrex has a terrific strike-rate in contests of this type and saddles The Black Squirrel, second in a point at Great Trethew in February. Truckers Tangle has also been placed between the flags while Eat My Dirt bids to follow up his Ffos Las win under a penalty. Donald McCain’s Handy Hollow is a full brother to the stables' Flat and hurdles winner Hollow Tree so is respected but Gavin Cromwell’s Scorpion newcomer SOLEGLAD has been accompanied across the Irish Sea by leading amateur Derek O’Connor so might be the one to be on.
Eat My Dirt (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Tracked leader, driven and outpaced in 3rd over 2f out, ridden to take 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on strongly final 100 yards, finished well to lead post, won at Ffos Las 2m (5) gs in May beating State Sovereignty (10-9) by ns, 5 ran.
Soleglad (IRE) Scorpion gelding out of Tilaiya.
Truckers Tangle (IRE) 9-4 (11-11) Chsd ldrs in 3rd until 8l 2nd frm 8th, clsr 2nd bef 3out, ld bef 2out, hdd 2out & no ch with easy wnr frm last, kow, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Allannahs Gold (12-2) at Bartlemy 3m mdn gd in May.
Handy Hollow (IRE) Beat Hollow gelding out of Hesperia.
The Black Squirrel (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Hdwy 3 out; ev ch when blun nxt; kpt on wl, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Culverwell (12-0) at Great Trethew 2m 4f mdn sft in Feb.
Ali The Hunter (IRE) Papal Bull filly out of Polish Spring.
