tracked leader, led 7f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on, always held
held up towards rear, headway on inner over 4f out, kept on same pace
held up in touch, chased leaders over 4f out, kept on from 1f out
towards rear, hampered 8f out, headway over 4f out, kept on final furlong
towards rear, hampered 8f out, weakened over 5f out
led, headed 7f out, quickly weakened over 4f out
held up in mid-division, hampered 8f out, weakened 4f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch, one pace from over 2f out
towards rear, weakened over 4f out
held up in touch, went 2nd on bit 3f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, driven out
pushed along towards rear, weakened over 6f out, tailed off
held up towards rear, hampered 8f out, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, no impression
held up behind, headway 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
The biggest field of the day for this bumper and we will side with PAMOJA to take it, with Drumlang an interesting newcomer and Royal Swain, Fairynuff and Dear Sam others to consider. The selection made a pleasing debut when runner-up at Musselburgh in January on ground described as good. With improvement for the experience anticipated and fitness not an issue, he looks capable of stepping up on that run to score. Royal Swain carries a penalty for winning on debut at Carlisle in November, and while it is tough to follow-up in this grade Alan Swinbank has a better record than most at finding some improvement in his charges, so he is respected. Fairynuff is another previous winner, having scored at Catterick on good to soft, and he is not dismissed lightly in this attempt to back-up. Dear Sam shoulders top weight after two bumper wins from three attempts, and he faces an arduous task in a relatively competitive heat, while Drumlang is interesting for having the champ up, though Hen Knight's gelding is hardly bred for stamina and has that to prove on the racecourse. Pamoja gets the vote.
Dear Sam (GER) 14-1 (11-11) Prominent, led over 3f out, headed over 1f out, rallied again to lead near line, won at Catterick 2m NH flat (5) gs in Dec beating County Colours (11-4) by 1l, 16 ran.
Fairynuff 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led over 3f out, stayed on well from over 1f out, won at Catterick 2m NH flat (5) gs in Dec beating County Colours (11-4) by 6l, 16 ran.
Candleford 28-1 (10-12) Always behind, 13th of 15, well behind Stopped Out (10-5) at Wetherby 1m 5f 3yo nhf (5) sft in Dec '08.
Hidden In Time 16-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, weakened over 4f out, 8th of 16, 23l behind Wordy's Boy (10-13) at Doncaster 2m NH flat (5) gs in Feb.
Hind House Keen gelding out of Abbey's Joy Vii.
Hobsons Bay (IRE) 15-8fav (11-4) Led, swerved badly left and tried to run out after 3f, soon driven back into lead, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 13, 12l behind Miss Abbey (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m NH flat (5) gd in Jan.
Northwold 66-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, pushed along before halfway, soon struggling, 11th of 12, well behind Habbie Simpson (11-4) at Southwell 2m NH flat (6) sft in Feb.
Power Flow (IRE) 80-1 (11-4) Led, ridden, headed 2f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner final furlong, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Eagle Owl (10-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) hvy in Feb.
Star Native 12-1 (10-8) Always behind, 10th of 16, 49l behind Carpincho (11-1) at Catterick 2m mdn NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Wotamixup 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division, outpaced 5f out, soon behind, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Eagle Owl (10-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) hvy in Feb.
Royal Swain (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Held up in touch, smooth headway over 4f out, led over 2f out, soon ran green, held on under pressure, won at Carlisle 1m 6f 3yo nhf (5) sft in Nov beating Vannin (10-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
Bob Bucks (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Held up, chased leaders before halfway, weakened over 3f out, 9th of 11, 33l behind Safran De Cotte (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Feb.
Pamoja 9-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, chased leaders 3f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Miss Abbey (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m NH flat (5) gd in Jan.
Portofino 13-2 (10-2) Mid-division, effort over 5f out, driven and outpaced over 3f out, soon weakened, 12th of 16, 49l behind Carpincho (11-1) at Catterick 2m mdn NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Accamelia 50-1 (10-0) Held up behind, headway 5f out, stayed on final 2f, never nearer, 4th of 16, 15l behind Fridaythorpe (11-0) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) sft in Feb.
Rudanphast (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, kept on final 2f, 4th of 15, 23l behind Dare Me (11-11) at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (6) gs in Feb.
Drumlang (IRE) Soviet Star gelding out of Sherekiya.
