slight lead until narrowly headed 2nd, chased winner until 4 out, lost 3rd and weakened 2 out
held up in 3rd, not fluent 13th, 2nd 4 out, led narrowly on inside before next until 3 out, chased winner, driven before last, kept on run-in, not quite pace to challenge
tracked leader, led 2nd and set steady pace, clear 5th, quickened before 15th, ridden and headed before 3 out, in front again 3 out, driven and stayed on gamely run-in
held up in 4th place, not fluent 2nd, pushed along and outpaced after 4 out, mistake 3 out, went 3rd next, kept on well run-in, not reach winner
BERTIE BORU is quirky in the extreme but was on his best behaviour at Exeter nine days ago and in splendid isolation over the last two fences. He has won back-to-back races before in bis career and, if in the mood again, will clearly take all the beating here despite his penalty. Neither Port Melon nor Abracadabra Sivola have sparkled recently but Tinker Time was noted staying on strongly behind Bodega at Newbury last Saturday and could be a threat if building on that.
Port Melon (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, weakened from 5 out, 5th of 8, 31 3/4l behind Valleyofmilan (10-4) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Tinker Time (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, pecked 11th (water), lost place and behind 6 out, soon pushed along, headway on outside after next, close up 4 out, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure flat, 4th of 10, 8 1/4l behind Bodega (10-6) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Abracadabra Sivola (FR) 8-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, slow 6th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 11th, at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Bertie Boru (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Held up in touch, hampered 14th, led 4 out, drew clear from next, easily, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Mar beating Themanfrom Minella (11-8) by 11l, 5 ran.
