tracked leaders, driven 4 out, weakened before 2 out
led, reminders from 5th, headed before 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch on outside, led before 3 out, ridden after next, hard pressed when not fluent last, headed narrowly flat, kept on, just held
tracked leaders, lost place before 3 out, soon weakened
held up in 5th, chased leading pair before 3 out, went 2nd next, every chance when not fluent last, ridden to lead narrowly flat, just held on
held up in rear, headway and in touch on outside 4 out, went 2nd next, effort 2 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd between last 2
Tony McCoy had to work hard to land a gamble on DON'T BE LATE at Worcester last week, and although those labours are likely to have taken something out of the five-year-old, he may still be far enough ahead of the handicapper. Wayne Hutchinson is here for just one ride and Compton Blue is sure to be a factor if he can reproduce his victory at Market Rasen. Laustra Bad made the running before being overhauled by our selection last week and while he is clearly not the horse he once was, there was some market confidence behind him. The dam of Oscar O'Scar was a useful stayer so Phil Kirby's runner should be noted in the market on his handicap debut. 5.50
Compton Blue 8-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, switched right after 2 out, went 2nd last, led flat, stayed on, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf beating Sagredo (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Laustra Bad (FR) 4-1 (11-11) Led until 3rd, led next, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 8, 11l behind Don't Be Late (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf.
Don't Be Late (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Held up, headway 7th, challenged 2 out, led when not fluent last, soon headed, driven ahead towards finish (no time taken), won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf beating Zalgarry (10-11) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Oscar O'scar (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up, never better than mid-division, tailed off, 13th of 20, well behind Red Devil Boys (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Della Sun (FR) 16-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, lost place 5th, pushed along and struggling after 4 out, 6th of 11, 9l behind Scoglio (11-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Scottish Boogie (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out, last of 6, 43l behind Buckhorn Tom (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
