A track which had been harrowed and salted in the morning meant heavy going for the BAGS meeting today. Michaelangelo has a three timer.
Race 1 Grade A7 Time 29.89
Betfair support for Jogon Clyde, 3s to 11/4, who made a slow start, paced up well and after a first bend crowd turned in second place until one paced from the third bend. He finished fifth.
Race 4 Grade A3 Time 29.30
Rhoden Free, 5/2 to 7/4 following a Betfair move, trapped on terms
and turned a handy second but couldn't quite match the pace inside him of the winner. He kept on well for second place.
Race 5 Grade A6 Time 29.81
Betfair support for Lisnakill Joanna, 5/2 to 7/4, who won with a bit more in hand than the official margin after switching twice on the run in. She turned in fourth place before moving into second place at the third before finding a finishing kick which proved too strong for the early leader. She reminded Precious of Phil Bennett for a brief moment
.
Race 6 Grade A5 Time 29.60
Support on Betfair for both Sing Along Boss at 7/2 and Tyrur Pique, 7/2 to 11/4. Pique started slowest of the six runners before racing up well to lead between bends one and two squeezing up the quick starting leader in the process. He strode out well for a comfortable win made easier by his not running excessively wide at the second bend. How do they train them to do that?
Sing Along started slowly and turned in third place before finishing a well beaten third.
Race 7 Grade A7 Time 29.79
Emerson Strider couldn't match the early pace of a couple of rivals and turned in third place before finishing an every chance third. There was Betfair support for her from 3s to 5/2.
Race 9 Grade A2 Time 29.36
Betfair support for the well graded but badly drawn Leggy Tiger, 7/2 to 11/4 who suffered a rough ride round the first bend. Despite this he turned in third place and looked a possible winner but once the blue sheet quickened into the lead at the third Leggy was caught a bit flatfooted and when the accelerating white sheet got inside him at the last bend Tiger was sent tumbling to the floor. Ouch!
Race 10 Grade A6 Time 29.49
Despite being supported by Mr Betfair from 4s to 7/2, Tyrur Hayes underlined that he is not in the best of form at the moment. After missing the break he was last dog to the bend but after missing a crowd at the first and then trouble caused by the blue sheet stumbling at the second Hayed appeared in second place a good distance behind the improved leader at the second bend. Hayes was a well beaten and one paced third at the line.
Race 11 Grade A3 Time 28.95
A clash of cash with support for Rhoden Rio, 3s to 5/2, and Soft Spot, 3s to 2s, who had dropped a kilo for this. Spot trapped marginally in front and was in the lead at the first bend before stretching his winning margin to over 10L at the line and a change in the going allowance avoided an 'Hello, Hello, Hello. What have we here then?' welcome from the Paddock Steward.
Rio absolutely fell out of traps. He paced up well to the bend, moved middle where he was held slightly before showing impressive pace to the third where he eased badly and finished fourth.
Race 12 Grade A8 Time 29.86
Office money for Highview Torrent, 4s to 3s, who started slowly and was knocked over at the first bend.
Race 13 Grade A2 Time 29.21
Janes Oasis had cash support from 5/2 to 2s, before showing the best early to secure a lead on the run up. His backers were grateful for the clear advantage he had going to the third since he was fading near the finish and was all out to hold on at the line from Efceeunited. Efceeunited, supported by Mr Betfair from 4s to 3s, has started slowly and was only fourth off the second bend but he ran on to finish a very close second.