RACE SUMMARY
 

Memphis Man ran for a trainer in a new role and this was his second runner for the owner he is private trainer to. The previous runner had made a moderate debut on softer ground but shown improved form to place second NTO. He had a surprise 14/1 FTO winner four days before in a poor race at Southwell and following this win has two wins from three debut runs. Steady at 8/1 third favourite in a market with an odds-on M Johnston runner and an expensive T Easterby 2yo on debut.

Looked smallish (possibly smaller than Myths And Verses) but a neat, ready sprinter with just above average build. Did not look fully fit but showed more stretch and reach in the last 1.5 furlongs.

Broke ok and travelled in third to halfway where he had to be driven for a short period probably as the race quickened. He was given a hard ride from 1.5f out (the runner-up was just hands-and-heels) and led from before 1f out and kept on well enough. Won in a slowish time and the overall form is moderate. However, he was not wound-up here and he should show good improvement to STO. Looked likely to be limited by his size so not able to rate too far above 70-75 after mid-season.

Myths And Verses ran for a trainer who does not target strong debuts but given who she is you would expect she would be ready to place at least. In a steady market she was 11/2 second favourite behind an odds-on M Johnston runner.

She looked smallish (similar size to Memphis Man) and compact but with ok depth and build for her size. She looked to have a faster action and without showing better stretch and reach in the later stages of the race. Given a relatively tender ride (especially compared to the first and fourth) and only hands-and-heels later stages (just enough to ensure she kept 2nd).

Broke well and shared the pacemaking with Hillbilly Cat and travelled well enough. Headed towards the last 1f and the hard ridden Memphis Man showed more reach to go by and slowly pull away. A moderate level of form and just middling by trainer FTO standards. Looked to be a smaller, fast actioned sprinter and probably limited by her size. May be able to rate 70+ early but not one to follow on this and always vulnerable to bigger and/or better types. Presume she'll try to break her maiden in a small race before trying Listed company, perhaps in the Hilary Needler.

Verite drifted from 12/1 to 25/1 for a trainer who has his 2yos close to their best on debut. The strong odds-on M Johnston runner failed in the race. Performed slightly above expectations in moving forward to track the pace in third at halfway and plugging on as the race quickened and only losing ground to the winner. A moderate level of form and likely to be limited improvement but looks better than the dam's previous foals on this.

Hillbilly Cat was entirely unfancied at 33/1 for a trainer who usually knows the ability of his 2yos and is realistic about them. In a typical group of small, sprint types in a race at this course he was slightly bigger although slightly shallow and leggy but carried himself acceptably.

In the context of his non 5f pedigree and his 33/1 SP he ran an interesting race. He broke best and shared the (average) pacemaking with Myths And Verses and travelled second best for the first 3.5f. He looked to get outpaced from 1.5f out and was given a very hard ride by his jockey. In the last furlong he looked either very tired and/or unwilling but still showed some response to the jockey's pressure. A poor level of form to expectations but a positive in the way he travelled earlier in the race. Worth tracking what he does in blinkers over 6f+.

Bowland Boy had a small each-way nibble for him at 14/1 to 11/1 fourth favourite in a race with an odds-on M Johnston runner and two newcomers at at shorter prices than him. Got slightly wound up stood in the stalls and a handler got up to hold him. Broke awkwardly from the outside stall and moderate pick up to be in the last pair and off the average pace. Some progress after halfway but probably got outpaced around 1.5f out and then hung left under pressure. Performed to expectations given the minor problems he made for himself.

Prejudicial had run an acceptable debut by the trainer's standards but had not shown 5f pace in being beaten six lengths in a slow time on soft ground at Ripon. He was a strong odds-on favourite here partly because the opposition was made up of known moderate runners and newcomers from normally non strong FTO stables.

On TV pictures he did not look notably bigger than the others in a smallish group. He is notably lengthy for his size and slightly short and not an obvious speed set-up. He did not look hard fit and has solid scope to develop his fitness.

He showed inexperience at the start and picked up slowly and was driven by the jockey early and for most of the race. Outpaced and looking somewhat uncomfortable from the start and struggling to keep in touch with the group. Never got into the race and only managed to pick up the fading Tallyhobye. A poor level of from and well below expectations. He has now run two races on different ground and achieved a poor level of from on both. Too much was probably expected of him here but still a poor run. Possible contributing factors:

• He's not as good as thought
• He isn't a speed 5f type
• He could/would not stride out properly on the slightly firmer ground
• His trainer has had some disappointing runs recently - although this one never got into the race rather than not finishing it off properly.

Tallyhobye 50/1 outsider on debut for a trainer notable for uncompetitive debuts. Broke slightly slow and had to be driven for the first 50 yards to pick up. Recovered reasonably to sit midfield and 3 lengths off the pace at halfway. Strong fade from 2f out and performed below the low expectations but a usual debut for the trainer but with no obvious promise.