held up in touch, hit 4th, headway when hit next, pecked 2 out, led between last 2, ridden and kept on well flat
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 2 out, kept on approaching last, no impression
held up behind, lost touch 3 out, tailed off next
raced wide, led to after 3rd, with leader, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened
raced wide, held up in rear, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on from next, never trouble leaders
with leader, led after 3rd, hit 3 out, ridden and headed between last 2, every chance when blundered last, kept on flat
mid-division, headway and in touch 4th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
raced keenly, in touch, headway when mistake 3 out, ridden and outpaced next, soon weakened
According To Pete has the class to prevail at the expense of Royal Master, Butler Services and Third Empire to name but three. The main thing to point out here is that Graham Lee rides According To Pete rather than staying loyal to the Johnson stable's newcomer Star Zero who is related to Flat winner Stoney Valley. According To Pete was a dual bumper winner here and at Catterick late last year, and lost nothing in defeat on a return visit to the North Yorkshire venue when humping a 10lb penalty into second place behind the favourite Topwell. Sure to have been well schooled, he has nothing to fear from today's opponents and if putting in a clear round, should take all the beating. Royal Master was all out to open his account over hurdles at Market Rasen in August and has struggled since. He may find this older company tough as well and a bigger danger may well be Butler Services who makes the long journey up from Gloucestershire. This half-brother to a couple of useful chasers including Beatson is surely capable of more than he has shown so far, and apart from the favourite there is not a great deal to worry about. Third Empire is coming along steadily and is worth a mention at least, but we have no hesitation in returning to According To Pete as the answer.
According To Pete 5-4fav (11-9) Mid-division, smooth headway 4 out, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Topwell (10-12) at Catterick 2m nhf (H) gd in Dec.
Boris The Spider 33-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, led to after 3rd, remained in touch, mistake 4th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 14, 44l behind Percussionist (11-5) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (E) sft in Dec.
Butler Services (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, tailed off pulled up 2 out in race won by Paro (10-11) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (4) gf, 14 ran.
Futoo (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders 6th, weakened 4 out, 10th of 17, well behind Hard Act To Follow (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Star Zero Danzero gelding, half-brother to numerous winners on the flat and over jumps.
Third Empire 11-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, soon no impression, 6th of 15, 16l behind Industrial Star (10-12) at Catterick 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Novack du Beury (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Behind, headway 6th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Clyffe Hanger (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (C) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Royal Master 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, 7th of 10, well behind Gardasee (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec.
