towards rear, switched right and short-lived effort over 2f out
tracked leaders, chased leaders over 2f out, weakened
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3f out
mid-division, never better
towards rear, headway on inside 2f out, one pace
made all, ridden clear over 2f out, driven out
slowly into stride, headway over 2f out, kept on one pace
tracked leader throughout and keen, one pace final furlong
towards rear, some headway 6f out, soon held
in touch, raced wide, lost place on bend 3f out
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3f out, kept on
in touch, soon lost place and struggling
In the finale, Over To You Bert gets the nod over Elm's Schoolboy and Stoneacre Fred. Lightly raced over the last couple of year, Over To You Bert may have been fortunate to have been handed the race at Kempton last time but what is not in question is the fact that he retains ability and a repeat of that run could be good enough today. It would be no surprise to see Elm's Schoolboy bag some money, while Stoneacre Fred has at least shown some form of late and, with his stable's horses generally going okay, he could make the frame too. Finally, Irish raider Tackcoat won a modest Southwell race last time so has more to do now and Barney Curley's is also modest Island Green holds place claims. Overall, though, we are happy to side with Over To You Bert.
Tackcoat (IRE) 10-3fav (8-8) Prominent, led over 2f out, driven and kept on gamely final furlong, won at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs in Dec beating Tip Top Style (8-12) by a shd, 11 ran.
Stoneacre Fred (IRE) 11-1 (8-6) Steadied start, in rear, good headway over 1f out, ran on well final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 12, 3/4l behind Freda's Choice (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-50 (6) pol.
Bobering 16-1 (7-13) Raced keenly, held up, headway on outside 3f out, hung left over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 13, 7l behind Street Life (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
My Michelle 8-1 (9-4) Towards rear, switched right 2f out, some late progress, 7th of 15, 6l behind Primeshade Promise (8-10) at Chepstow 1m hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Sept.
Elms Schoolboy 20-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, towards rear, late headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish, 7th of 14, 5l behind Majehar (8-11) at Kempton 1m banded stk (7) pol in Dec.
Over To You Bert 33-1 (8-7) Soon tracked leaders, chased winner inside final furlong, slightly hampered towards finish, just held, awarded race, 2nd of 13, shd behind Earl Kraul (9-6) at Kempton 1m Stks (41-45) (7) pol. Later awarded race.
Island Green (USA) 9-4fav (9-0) With leader, led 6f out, headed just over 1f out, no extra inside last, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Freda's Choice (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f banded stk (7) pol in Dec.
Fantasy Defender (IRE) 4-1fav (9-0) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, stayed on, 4th of 13, 7l behind Time To Regret (9-0) at Kempton 1m Stks (41-45) (7) pol.
