towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
tracked leader, led over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong
held up behind leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
led, headed over 4f out, soon outpaced, eased down final furlong
stumbled at start, took keen hold to go prominent, pushed along 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong
never better than mid-division
held up in mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and one pace final furlong
towards rear, ridden 3f out, no impression
mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
A headscratcher for the Merseyside punters but one in which Fernery can provide the answers although Arry Dash, Leighton and Kentucky Blue are all respected. Luca Cumani enjoyed a 40% strike rate with his runners at Haydock last term and it is interesting that this progressive type is sent up North. We will presume that this is on account of the softer conditions given her best form was shown when finishing second with similar conditions in a Windsor maiden. Richard Quinn rates a rare booking for Cumani but the pair did combine to win on their only previous engagement last term. Arry Dash is a likeable individual from the Mick Channon camp. He ran well to finish fourth to Consonant at Lingfield last month and should possess an advantage of race-fitness. He is yet to encounter such ground conditions in his short career and his welter-burden will feel very heavy in today's holding ground. Leighton will be winning races this term and should be followed when the ground is significantly faster. The progeny of his sire, Desert Story have an appalling record on softer surfaces. Kentucky Blue has no such problems with the surface and has developed into a decent hurdler over the winter. Its worth remembering that he was no slouch on the flat beforehand and does have a win to his name over course and distance and more importantly, on the ground. The Bonus King looks to be a light of the juvenile performer he once was. There was some encouragement to be gleaned from his recent Pontefract effort but Fernery is nominated as the win-bet with Kentucky Blue offered up as a saver.
