held up behind, smooth headway over 4f out, challenged going well 2f out, shaken up 1f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, just failed
led and clear with one rival to halfway, headed over 3f out, soon ridden, kept on until weakened 1f out
mid-division on outside, lost place over 4f out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, ridden and outpaced 3f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch chasing group, ridden and lost place over 4f out, soon weakened
in touch in chasing group, effort to chase leader 3f out to 2f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, driven over 3f out, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch in chasing group, ridden and effort over 2f out, soon one pace, weakened final furlong
held up in mid-division, switched to outside and steady headway 5f out, led going well 2f out, soon hard pressed, shaken up 1f out, driven inside final fulong, just held on
mid-division, headway over 4f out, effort and every chance 2f out, one pace and no chance with leading pair final furlong
in touch chasing group, headway 5f out, ridden to challenge and every chance 2f out, soon outpaced, no impression final furlong
tracked leader and clear to halfway, led over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
It is never easy for runners under a penalty in a bumper and Paul Nicholls' Irish import King Of The Night may struggle to defy 4lb rise for his win his win at Stratford in September in what looked a poor contest and it may be worth siding with the newcomer SPRINTER SACRE, who gets the vote with another making their debut Wood Yer looking the pick of the remainder. The selection is trained by Nicky Henderson, who does well with his runners in this grade and the French bred gelding makes plenty of appeal on pedigree so may be worth siding with first time out. King Of The Night apart, Venetian Lad probably has the best form of those to have raced previously having run a creditable third in a Newbury bumper in December but he was well held that day and may have to settle for a place at best. Nick Gifford's Bad Sir Brian and Alan King's Sweet Irony are others to consider but of more interest may be Wood Yer, who represents the yard of Nigel Twiston-Davies that does well with runners in this grade. The son of Anshan has to be respected but Sprinter Sacre takes the eye on pedigree and is taken to make a winning debut.
King Of The Night (GER) 11-8fav (11-0) Tracked leaders and keen, led over 2f out, stayed on well, won at Stratford 2m NH flat (6) gf in Sep beating One Cool Tornado (11-0) by 4l, 14 ran.
Bad Sir Brian (IRE) Bach gelding out of Ballyverane Pride.
Big Guns (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 10th of 11, 31l behind Life Long (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f NH flat (5) sft in Dec.
Fun Guy 40-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, lost place over 4f out, soon weakened, 12th of 15, well behind Saintly Lady (10-11) at Hereford 2m 1f NH flat (5) sft in Dec.
Nenthorne (IRE) Alderbrook gelding out of Ela Plaisir.
Rogue Dancer (FR) Dark Moondancer gelding out of Esperanza Iv.
Tropical Secret 50-1 (11-4) Led, ridden over 3f out, weakening and headed over 1f out, 6th of 12, 12l behind Alexander Beetle (10-7) at Ludlow 2m NH flat (5) sft in Jan '09.
Venetian Lad 66-1 (11-2) Behind, headway 3f out, kept on final 2f out, not pace of front pair, 3rd of 18, 9l behind Mizzurka (10-6) at Newbury 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Bright Decision Thowra gelding out of Bright Spangle.
Peedeeque Kayf Tara gelding out of Sister Kit.
Sprinter Sacre (FR) Network gelding out of Fatima Iii.
Sweet Irony (FR) 7-1 (10-12) In touch in chasing group until lost place over 3f out, 7th of 14, 20l behind Jaques Vert (10-12) at Warwick 1m 6f 3yo nhf (5) gd in Nov.
Top Smart Karinga Bay gelding out of Clover Dove.
Wood Yer (IRE) Anshan gelding out of Glenasheen.
