in touch and keen, driven 3 out, led over 1f out, ran on
towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden and under pressure 1f out, soon held
tracked leaders, weakened 2f out
held up, effort over 3f out, no impression on leaders
led and set steady pace, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no further impression
held up tracking leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out
held up and keen, weakened 3f out
It is never easy for horses under penalties in bumpers but The Hairy Mutt seemed to win with plenty in hand when landing a race at Stratford last month and the Evan Williams-trained gelding can follow up here, getting the vote ahead of Hold Em and The Good Guy. The last mentioned was a point-to-point winner last term and Kim Bailey's gelding has to be respected in receipt of weight from the selection on his rules debut. Posh Emily has the benefit of experience but needs to improve, while Dont Tell Baby makes only limited appeal first time out. Point winner Hold Em made a winning start to his rules career when taking a Newton Abbot bumper last month but that form does not look as good as that shown by The Hairy Mutt, who is hard to oppose.
Hold Em (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Held up, headway halfway, led over 3f out, ridden out, won at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (6) gf in Sept beating Day's Over (10-7) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
The Hairy Mutt (IRE) 2-1jt-fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 6f out, soon chasing leaders, led over 2f out, ran on well final furlong, won at Stratford 2m nhf (5) gd in Sept beating Shade Bonny (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Freedom Frix 50-1 (11-3) In touch, effort 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 16, 15l behind I'msingingtheblues (11-3) at Wincanton 2m mdn nhf (6) gd in Mar.
Longmynd 33-1 (10-13) Behind from halfway, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Lesmoir (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Aug, 15 ran.
Lygon Legend Midnight Legend gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
The Good Guy (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Trckd ldrs; eff last; qcknd to ld flat; sn clr, won at Whittington 2m 5f ptp gf in Apr beating Buffalo Bob (10-13) by 11l, 9 ran.
Posh Emily 16-1 (10-2) In touch, ridden and weakened over 4f out, 7th of 12, 15l behind Outlandish (11-0) at Lingfield 2m nhf (6) gf in Sept.
Western Pride 33-1 (10-9) Chased leaders until weakened 4f out, 16th of 18, well behind Fiddling Again (10-12) at Newbury 1m 4f mrs nhf (5) sft in Dec.
Dont Tell Baby (IRE) Priolo gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
