slowly away, towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never on terms
set strong pace, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, one pace and lost 3rd final strides
close up, ridden and ran on final furlong, just failed
tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, all out
in rear, ridden over 1f out, ran on final furlong, went 3rd final strides
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong
awkwardly away, towards rear, never on terms
in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
raced wide held up, ridden and weakened over 1f out
Steelriver won easily over track and trip last week but he still fails to inspire confidence given that was his first success since 2014 and he’s 7lb higher today. Monumental Man was placed here on his penultimate start, with both Mutabaahy and Aguerooo behind, while Bobby Joe Leg has been thereabouts on this surface at Newcastle recently. But KUPA RIVER has also been threatening a return to winning ways with a couple of recent narrow-margin defeats over course and distance and it could be the turn of Roger Fell’s charge today.
Mutabaahy (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Towards rear, kept on inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 9th of 12, 3 1/4l behind The Establishment (9-4) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Monumental Man 11-10fav (9-4) Led, clear 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd and no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 5, 1 1/2l behind The Groove (9-10) at Wolverhampton 6f stks (5) pol in Feb.
Aguerooo (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on well, never nearer, 6th of 11, 3 3/4l behind Real Estate (9-4) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Kupa River (IRE) 15-8fav (9-1) Close 3rd, not clear run briefly 2f out, soon challenging, led just over 1f out, headed close home, 2nd of 7, nk behind Martineo (9-4) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Steelriver (IRE) 3-1 (9-8) Held up and behind, going well when not clear run briefly over 1f out, barged way through and headway soon after, led inside final furlong, soon clear, easily, won at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Feb beating Admiral Rooke (9-2) by 4l, 10 ran.
Bobby Joe Leg 10-3jfav (8-12) Raced keenly, held up in last pair, good headway near side of group chasing leaders over 2f out, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Gentlemen (9-7) at Newcastle 7f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Newstead Abbey 16-1 (9-6) Mid-division, headway on inside over 2f out, chased leaders, ridden and one pace over 1f out, 4th of 14, 4l behind Thunder Buddy (9-1) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Always Amazing 7-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, halfway, headway on inside over 1f out, ran on same pace inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 3rd of 10, 5 3/4l behind Steelriver (9-8) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Sandytown (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) Held up in touch, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, last of 10, 13 1/4l behind Conversant (9-1) at Doncaster 6f hcp (5) sft in Apr.