not fluent early, led to 3rd, with winner and driven, outpaced 3 out, hit next, 4 lengths down when mistake last, no impression
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, driven and outpaced when mistake next, soon one pace
in touch, led 3rd, made rest, ridden 2 out, stayed on well, eased near finish
in touch, not fluent 2nd, lost place 4 out, soon weakened
held up, in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
held up, hit 5th, behind when fell 4 out
Drumshambo only had the one outing on the flat in Ireland for Jim Bolger and now makes his debut for Venetia Williams so he is difficult to evaluate and a safer option looks to be DEVIL TO PAY who gets the verdict ahead of Dubai Creek, who looks the pick of the remainder. The selection was useful on the flat for John Dunlop and made a pleasing first start over timber when fourth behind Bothy over course and distance in December at a time when Alan King's runners were not in good form but they are going better now and he looks the one to beat. Don McCain's Rawaaj was only rated in the mid 60's on the flat and does not look any better over hurdles with a bigger threat likely to come from Braveheart Move. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding was easily the pick of these on the flat when trained by Sir Mark Prescott and is surely better than we have seen of him so far over timber. Don McCain is also represented by Pacific Bay and Dubai Creek with the latter of the two looking the pick of his three runners in the race having run well in maidens on the flat before falling early on when making his hurdling debut. Alan King's Devil To Pay has an obvious chance to open his account tough and is taken to do that here.
Braveheart Move (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Towards rear, pushed along 4th, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 24l behind Hunterview (10-11) at Warwick 2m Juvenile Maiden Hurdle (4yo) (4) sft in Jan.
Devil To Pay 10-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, chased leaders from 3rd, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 6l behind Bothy (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Drumshambo (USA) 20-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden into 2nd 3f out, dropped to moderate 4th 2f out, soon no extra, 8th of 18, 22l behind Dixie Music (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m 2f mdn stks gd in May (flat).
Dubai Creek (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders and keen, hit 1st, rider lost iron, fell 3rd, in a race won by Bothy (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Rawaaj 50-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 34l behind Stormy Weather (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Pacific Bay (IRE) 10-3fav (10-2) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway approaching 6th, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 25l behind Tesserae (10-5) at Ludlow 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (4) sft in Dec.
