The fitting of a tongue tie and drop in class helped Seemingly So regain winning form under a confident ride from Adam Wedge.
SEEMINGLY SO had been nowhere near the level he achieved when winning at Musselburgh in two subsequent starts, but took well to the fitting of a tongue-tie, to go with the cheekpieces, and bounced back to form dropping to a Class 5 event. His profile shows it's highly unlikely he'll back this up, unless the tongue-tie continues to have a positive effect.
CLEAR THE RUNWAY took a grip but jumped with aplomb and won eased down having cruised clear in the straight, adding a second C&D success to his CV. He's taken well to fences with form figures now reading 12121 and he certainly looks capable of adding to that, especially if kept on the go.
PERCUSSION put up a career-best. With a tongue-tie and first-time cheekpieces, he travelled strongly and sauntered clear to score by a wide margin. The drop back to 2m4f clearly suited him and he may improve a little more.
FIRE AWAY hadn't shown his best on two starts over fences this spring after a break (up against it last time, when sporting first-time visor) but set the standard now back over hurdles and returned to novice company. A couple of untidy jumps in the straight didn't aid his cause but he kept finding enough to hold off the second. His lower hurdle mark could prove tempting before going back over fences.
Given a very positive ride from Adam Wedge, Clear The Runway easily compensated for his narrow Mussleburgh defeat last time out with a convincing success.
CLEAR THE RUNWAY won with plenty to spare and is unfortunate not to be unbeaten in three attempts over fences. A strong traveller and essentially a good jumper, he stays further and should continue on his upward curve.
Given a very confident, waiting ride by Adam Wedge, Champ Is Real cruised to victory at Mussleburgh, effectively 4lbs better off than his last win where he was 11 lbs out of the handicap.
CHAMP IS REAL won well on his debut over regulation fences over this C&D 10 days earlier from 11lb out of the handicap. The 6yo was wearing a first-time cheekpieces and tongue-tie headgear combination. He readily made the most of this fantastic follow-up opportunity from 4lb lower despite a 7lb penalty. His winning time was good, he had plenty in hand at the finish and the hat-trick seems within his capabilities.
LOUGHDERG ROCCO was returning from an 81-day break, dropping in class and trip. He found this test a tad too sharp but still had enough in hand to defeat his main form rival in ready enough fashion. The 6yo is an Irish point winner who should have even more to offer over regulation fences at some stage.
Bold Endeavour made a classy debut over hurdles at Sedgefield under a confident ride from Adam Wedge, he looks to have a bright future.
Add 9yds. Fair form in this maiden hurdle and the principals have the potential to go on to better things. Lanty Slea was around 2 lengths down in second when unseating on the turn before the second last. BOLD ENDEAVOUR, a ready bumper winner here in the spring, followed up switched to hurdles on his return. It wasn't quite as straightforward as the eventual result might suggest but he was going away at the finish and there should be more to come, particularly as his stamina is drawn out (3m point winner).
Tackling 3 miles for the first time over fences, Tardree made all to win comfortably at Market Rasen under a tactically astute ride from Sean Bowen.
TARDREE, who made a winning debut over fences in June before disappointing when turned out only five days later, had been given a break since. He was back in fine fettle here, racing enthusiastically and producing some bold jumps, but also putting himself right when needed. This longer trip suited and the way he finished his race suggests an even greater test of stamina won't be a problem.
Having dropped in the handicap by a few pounds Beatiful Ben benefitted from an excellent ride by Adam Wedge to record his fourth win for the yard.
BEAUTIFUL BEN had not been at his best in three previous runs this season but, down in the weights and dropped in class, he was able to get back on track. Whether he would have won had his main rival not departed after being upsides at the last is open to question but he could do no more than handle his side of the bargain. It was reported that he was struck into so his victory was particualrly praiseworthy.
Given a very patient ride, Dream Point swept from the back to win close home at Catterick Park to give Violet Barton her first winner under rules.
DREAM POINT swept late under a finely timed ride, a first winner under rules for her jockey Violet Barton, who had been aboard when the 6yo went close at Nottingham nine days earlier. She got well back after a slow start, so is clearly back in top form and was weighted to win again on old Irish form.
QUOTES: This was always the plan to come here and then go to the Summer Plate at Market Rasen. FIRE AWAY is a better chaser than he is hurdler, but this was to bring him on as he’s still a novice over hurdles. We’re ready for two weeks time now. He’ll have a great chance, he only ever does enough as much he wants to do. He was idling in front today but he still won impressively. The two horses that beaten him are both Nicky Henderson’s and probably Graded-level horses – Laura Morgan, trainer.
FIRE AWAY could be called the winner from a fair way out having travelled strongly, and despite idling on the run-in, ran out a convincing winner. He has been in cracking form since landing a gamble in February and added a fifth success now reverting to hurdles, a first in this sphere. Although he'll be racing off a career-high mark when returned to fences for the Summer Plate at Market Rasen later in the month, he can go there with a decent chance.
