in touch, went 2nd 3 out, ridden before 2 out, led before last, kept on well
tracked leader, weakened from 3 out, tailed off
led, ridden before 2 out, headed before last, soon beaten
tracked leaders, reminders before 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out
A point-to-point winner in soft ground, BOSS MAN FRED came out best in a fight to the line at Kempton on his hurdling debut and first start for Dan Skelton. He may well prove good enough to defy a penalty with normal progress. Midnight Chill has won three times over fences since last seen over timber in 2018 and is fitted with additional headgear having been pulled up at Ludlow recently while Springfield Fox didn’t get very far at Bangor on his hurdling bow having won all three previous starts between the flags. Balagan debuts for a new yard with Richard Johnson in the plate on his first start over timber while The Hotelier debuts under Rules.
Boss Man Fred (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Held up, good headway on outside tracking leaders 4 out, 2nd next, challenged and hit 2 out, not fluent last, strong challenge run-in, led post, won at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov beating Ofalltheginjoints (11-5) by shd, 10 ran.
Balagan 25-1 (11-7) Waited with, 19th early, no impression over 5f out, soon no extra, 13th of 25, dist behind Front View (11-7) at Punchestown 2m Yielding in Apr.
Midnight Chill 5-1 (11-5) In rear, jumped right at times, not fluent 2nd, slow 9th, headway 15th, weakened 18th, pulled up before 4 out, at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Springfield Fox 11-4 (10-12) Tracked winner until not fluent 3 out, stumbled on landing and unseated rider next, at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 7f (4) hvy in Nov.
The Hotelier (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Chsd ldrs, 3rd frm 5th, mstk 5out, ld aftr 4out, hdd 3out, cl 3rd bef 2out, no ch with ldrs bef last, kow flat, 3rd of 10, 11 1/2l behind Lets Go Champ (11-11) at Bartlemy 3m mdn gd in May.
