prominent until weakened 3 out
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, nearest to finish
held up in touch, ridden and mistake 2 out, one pace from last
chased leader throughout, ridden and one pace from 2 out
prominent until weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, headway after 7th, ridden to lead after 3 out, kept on well, no time taken due to poor visibility (fog)
held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakening when mistake last
behind, not fluent 5th and 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off
Glasker Mill is taken to come out on top in the opener, with Mister Quasimodo,gdg Micky Cole and Kildonnan likely to run well. Some promising sorts line up here including ex-Irish point-to-pointer Glasker Mill who created a big impression when scoring on his British debut in a Kempton bumper last February. A bit more was expected of him in the Aintree Champion Bumper, but he finished 10th and was put away for the remainder of the season. The son of Old Vic was not too highly tried on his hurdling debut at Folkestone recently, and shaped well enough in third, given his absence. He will be a lot fitter now and should make a bold bid before going on to better things. Mister Quasimodo was well down the field in the Cheltenham Bumper last March and showed signs of better to come when chasing home the classy Neptune Collonges here three weeks ago, with Kildonnan well beaten back in fourth. The ground was very testing that day and he will appreciate the slightly better going, so should run well. Neptune Collonge's trainer Paul Nicholls saddles Micky Cole who drops back in trip after making his British debut here over three miles. He might just have a bit more to do at present though, and preference is for Glasker Mill.
Call Me Edward (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) With leader, chased winner from 3 out until last, weakened flat, 4th of 12, 21l behind Saltango (10-7) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gd.
Calusa Charlie (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up, smooth headway 4f out, led well over 1f out, clear final furlong, comfortably, won at Towcester 2m nhf (H) gs in Mar beating Benny (10-4) by 7l, 13 ran.
Glasker Mill (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, effort under pressure after 2 out, stayed on, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Killaghy Castle (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) gs.
Joseph Beuys (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, held up, headway over 6f out, ridden 4f out, no impression final 2f, 3rd of 11, 28l behind Asudo (10-11) at Chepstow 2m nhf (H) hvy.
Kildonnan 80-1 (10-12) Keen hold, tracked winner until after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 7, 26l behind Neptune Collonges (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy.
Micky Cole (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Always in touch, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Dunbell Boy (11-2) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (F) sft in Oct.
Mister Quasimodo 7-1 (10-12) Pulled hard, held up, mistake 5th, headway 7th, chased winner approaching 2 out, soon ridden and no impresson, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Neptune Collonges (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy.
Royal Cliche 33-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, weakened after 8th, 7th of 16, 36l behind Day Of Claies (11-1) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (D) gs in Oct.
Surfboard (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, led after 6f, headed halfway, led again after 3f out, driven out, won at Hereford 2m 1f nhf (H) gf in Oct beating Dateldoo (10-4) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
The Gerry Man (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Mid-division, pulled hard, headway halfway, weakened over 5f out, 13th of 20, 34l behind Here's Johnny (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (H) gs in Mar '04.
Twelve Paces 5-4fav (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 1st, headway 4th, reminders after 5th, weakened after next, 9th of 15, well behind Mikado (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (F) gs in Oct.
