tracked leader, led 3f out, soon clear, canter
tracked leaders, ridden over 6f out, soon weakened
held up, headway halfway, ridden over 5f out, chased winner over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, hung left and lost place after 6f, soon behind
behind, headway halfway, ridden over 5f out, kept on from over 1f out, no chance with winner
always behind
held up, effort halfway, soon weakened
keen, mid-division, headway over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
in touch, ridden over 6f out, soon weakened
Although the market may throw up a potential springer, Dempsey comes from a yard that knows the time of day in bumpers, and gets the thumbs-up, with Pollensa Bay one to keep an eye on. Dempsey was pulled up in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, struggling in the rear throughout, but was allowed to line up in the Aintree Bumper a month later. Once again he was tailed off, but there was a lot to like about his debut run at Kempton where he was an unlucky third after not getting the best of luck in running, and he remains one to keep on the right side of. A brother to Puget Blue, he has been slow to mature, and a patient policy is expected to pay off this winter. Pollensa Bay has stayed on in both his outings this summer, without looking like a world-beater. Tony McCoy is an eye catching booking but he does not make as much appeal as Mark Pitman's charge who can defy an absence to score before going on to better things when sent over hurdles.