held up in touch, ridden and headway to lead 5th, chased winner from 6th, well held from 2 out
prominent, ridden 7th soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, ridden 7th, no impression
led to 2nd to before 3rd, ridden and headed when left for 3rd 2 out
chased leader, led before 3rd to 6th, ridden in 3rd when fell 2 out
held up in touch, led on bit 6th, quickened on bridle 3 out, mistake last, heavily eased flat
pulled hard and held up last, always behind, fell 2 out
mid-division, ridden headway when mistake 7th, weakened 3 out
pulled hard and held up towards rear, steady headway from 7th, weakened 2 out
led to 2nd, ridden 6th, weakened 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Red Ruffles can again beat the other penalized runner Jack Martin, with Supreme Piper and Rare Vintage capable of improving on what they have shown so far. Red Ruffles and Jack Martin met at Doncaster on 5 March, with Noel Chance's five-year-old coming out on top to the tune of nine lengths. The form was given a boost when Jack Martin went one better himself at Newcastle 18 days ago, on what was his first outing in handicap company. So, it should be close between the pair, but Chance has played his ace by putting up a 10lb claimer and that puts the ball firmly back in Red Ruffles' court here. Supreme Piper kept good company in his first season, taking on the likes of Rhinestone Cowboy and Our Vic. He was a faller at Exeter on his belated return in November, and as he was challenging for the lead at the last, we can assume that the Hobbs runner still retains ability. He may need this though and is worth bearing in mind for another day. Henrietta Knight is double-handed, but the fact that Jim Culloty rides Rare Vintage suggests that he is the more fancied of the pair. Red Ruffles has already shown what he can do though and is taken to follow up.
