Reporter: Simon Rowlands
A disappointing turnout for a race switched here from Warwick’s cancelled meeting the weekend before, though all three were at least useful. Unsurprisingly, it was not much of a test on ground that was on the soft side of “good to soft”, the winner’s final 4f of 57.30s (111.7% finishing speed) underlining that speed more than stamina was tested.
JINGKO BLUE (c146+ here, 145+ previously) had relatively little to beat but accomplished it quite well and should soon prove very useful in this sphere, in second and making a couple of errors before left in the lead 3 out, soon a few lengths clear and merely pushed out for a comfortable success. This longer trip presented no problems for him under these unexacting circumstances.
LOWRY’S BAR (c144 here and previously) might have finished closer but for a blunder 3 out, which meant he surrendered the lead, but the winner did have a fair bit to spare in any case. He is already better over fences than hurdles but is probably not up to troubling unduly the very best novices in this sphere. This was the longest distance at which he has run.
JOHNNYWHO (c123 here, 137 previously) was eased right off on the run-in, but for which he would have run respectably, but his jumping did not hold up after he had been dropped out in last.
