There are some interesting newcomers in the field for the bumper including Hobsons Bay, Mr Jay Dee and Point West but ALLOW ME sets a decent standard and looks the one to be beat. The selection has run well in both starts so far in being placed in races at Newcastle and Musselburgh on good to soft ground and, if handling the even more testing conditions today, James Ewart's gelding will be tough to beat. Stable companion Collyns Avenue has plenty of stamina on the dam side of the pedigree but will need to be useful to get the better of the selection, while James Ewart's third runner, Frontier Boy, is far from certain to handle the underfoot conditions. Howard Johnson's runners in this grade always warrant respect and Hobsons Bay, a son of Flemensfirth is no exception. Any market support for Alan Swinbank's Mr Jay Dee would be of interest, while point-to-point winner Point West has to be considered on his first start for Nicky Richards. Allow Me has easily the best form of those to have raced previously and he looks the one to beat.
Allow Me 9-4 (10-11) Held up in touch, chased leaders halfway, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Definite All Star (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m mdn NH flat (5) gs in Nov.
Arctic Court (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Towards rear, ridden 3f out, from late headway final furlong, 4th of 10, 6l behind Quite The Man (10-11) at Kelso 2m NH flat (5) gd in Apr.
Barr Head (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Ld til hdd 2out, sn not qckn, 4th of 11, 16l behind Simonsberg (12-0) at Tyrella 3m ire ptp in Mar.
Collyns Avenue Bal Harbour gelding out of Flower Of Dunblane.
Fightstar (FR) Lord Of Men gelding out of Parla.
Frontier Boy (IRE) New Frontier gelding out of Mary Bridie.
Hobsons Bay (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Ou La La.
Mr Jay Dee (IRE) Lord Americo gelding out of Emmas Flyer.
Papamoa Terimon gelding out of Larksmore.
Paul Revere (IRE) Exit To Nowhere gelding out of Sharkezan.
Point West (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Prog 10; chall 2 out; led flat; drvn out, won at Trebudannon 2m 4f ptp in Apr '08 deadheating with Hardknott (12-0), 10 ran.
Snow Wizard (IRE) Norwich gelding out of Snow Hawk.
So Sauvage Loup Sauvage gelding out of Handsome Is.
Classical Mist Classic Cliche mare out of Mademist Jaz.
High Meadow Jo Silver Patriarch filly out of Sylvan Song.
