raced on inside, tracked leading trio and ran in snatches, mistake 6th, gained a place 4 out, disputing well held 2nd when pecked last, weakened and lost that placing towards finish
led and set even pace, hit 7th, headed approaching 3 out, soon no chance with easy winner, joined for well held 2nd at the last, weakened and lost that placing towards finish
tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, soon clear, hit next, stayed on strongly, ridden out
tracked leading pair, taken wide before 5th, pushed along and outpaced in 4th place 4 out, rallied into remote 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
Commodore Barry boast an impressive strike-rate over hurdles and a recent course and distance success was a further step forward. This wouldn’t be the strongest renewal of this Grade 2 but we still prefer TRUCKERS LODGE who, including allowances, was trying to give the winner 15lb when just touched off last time at Chepstow and is also on an upward curve. Bailarico beat a reluctant Larkbarrow Lad at Kempton but will need to step up again to land this and Nadaitak disappointed when failing to land the odds here last time.
Bailarico (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Tracked leading trio until went 3rd at 6th until 8th, left in 2nd place 3 out, challenged next, led last, quickened clear, won at Kempton 3m 1f (3) gd in Jan beating Larkbarrow Lad (11-2) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Commodore Barry (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Led, ridden before last, headed flat, led again close home, held on, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Blue Rambler (11-1) by hd, 8 ran.
Nadaitak 2-9fav (11-5) Tracked winner, ridden and mistake last, every chance run-in, not quicken, 2nd of 3, 3/4l behind Ratfacemcdougall (10-12) at Doncaster 3m (4) gd in Dec.
Truckers Lodge (IRE) 11-4fav (11-8) Prominent early, tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, led but hard pressed from next, driven before last, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Virginia Chick (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
