2:05 Pontefract 27 Sep 2018 EBF Maiden Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (Div I)( Class 4) (2yo) 6f Good .
UP THE MILLERS is now showing a good bit of size about him and was in the frame to win his first race with a couple of furlongs to go but threw away his chance by edging right for much of the last furlong and a half. He re-engaged with the pack in the last 100 yards and made ground on the leaders but by then the race was over. He finished 5th just 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner.
On the positive side this much more in keeping with his debut run, which showed he has the ability to make his mark in handicaps. UP THE MILLERS continues to grow and has still some way to go in filling out at the business end. At this rate he will make a decent 7-8 furlong competitor as a 3 year old.
OUR RODNEY, the 100-1 winner, must have improved significantly from his debut, where he was noted as being green, to take this, but he kept gamely close to the inside rail, finding plenty for pressure. It seems like he'll get further.
CAMBER, off since mid-August, took a while to get organised but finished well and only went down narrowly in a tight finish. This trip is fine for him but it looks like further could suit.
URBAN HIGHWAY bagged the inside rail and just edged it early from Up The Millers, but faded inside the final furlong. It's hard to say he progressed much if at all from his debut despite taking third.
OPEN SEA, the first foal of a dam who was a maiden from 6.5f-1m, and a half-sister to ill-fated 6f 2yo Group 3 winner Newfangled, didn't break very quickly and had to sit last early. That slow start probably cost her a win, as she finished much the best and cut through the field nicely before meeting some trouble in the latter stages.
TEASE MAID shaped with plenty of promise and can come on for this.Potenza seemed to run better than his beaten distance suggests on what was his turf debut and is one to watch out for in low-grade handicaps.