set modest gallop, quickened 3f out, ridden, headed and edged left 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
pressed leader, ridden 3f out, led 2f out, clear inside final furlong, stayed on
tracked leading pair, ridden over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace
Both Shy and Knocklayde were tailed off on their respective debuts in bumpers at Sedgefield and Ayr so ONLY A TIPPLE will not need to be a world-beater to make a winning start under Rules. Running in the Red Rum colours of his trainer, the five-year-old has had a couple of outings in point-to-points and showed some ability in the first of them.
Only A Tipple 5-2 (12-0) Lost plce 7; wl bhnd when pu 4 out, at Eyton-on-severn 2m 4f mdn sft in Mar.
Knocklayde (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, driven and lost place over 4f out, soon beaten, modest 4th final 2f, tailed off, 4th of 7, 32 1/4l behind Progress Drive (11-2) at Ayr 2m mdn (6) sft in Feb.
Shy (CZE) 20-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 4f out, plugged on final 2f, went remote 4th near finish, 4th of 7, dist behind Only Orvieto (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (6) sft in Mar.
