held up in touch, chased leader over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on
led, headed over 5f out, weakened quickly
prominent over 5f out, ridden 3f out, headed approaching final furlong, one pace
towards rear, headway over 3f out, kept on under pressure but hung right
towards rear, headway 6f out, soon ridden, one pace
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 3f out
tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened 2f out
held up, headway 6f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 3f out
towards rear, headway 6f out, ridden and weakened 3f out
mid-division and keen, headway 5f out, chased leaders over 2f out, one pace
As is normally the case with bumpers at this time of the season there is little for backers to go on but it is hard to get away from Take Me There, who gets the vote, with Easy Peasy and Grandage rated the pick of the remainder. The selection was a comfortable winner of his debut outing at Fakenham and the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding is hard to oppose on that evidence, even with the burden of a penalty today. Henrietta Knight's point-to-point winner Rathmulen clearly has ability and has to be of interest on his rules debut, while Earcomesthedream has the advantage of experience but is clearly nothing out of the ordinary. Anything trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies has to be respected, especially in bumpers, so Easy Peasy has to be considered along with Oliver Sherwood's Grandage but Take Me There has solid claims and is hard to oppose.
Take Me There 7-2 (11-2) In touch, ridden to lead entering final 2f, soon quickened clear, impressive, won at Fakenham 2m nhf (5) gd in Oct beating Little Lu (11-5) by 8l, 7 ran.
Bleu Reef (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 6f out, weakened over 3f out, last of 4, 26l behind Floradorado (10-9) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn nhf (6) frm in Nov.
Earcomesthedream (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, hung right over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 1 1/2l behind Pre Token (11-2) at Towcester 2m nhf (6) gd in Jun.
Grandage Courteous gelding, half-brother to winners from 6f-1m and over hurdles.
Nabouko (FR) Kadalko gelding, half-brother to winning pointer Imprevu & French Flat winner Liste En Tete.
No Panic (IRE) Dushyantor gelding out of Flat and jumps winner Afon Alwen.
Peel House Grand Lodge colt, half-brother to numerous winners, mostly at around 1m-1m4f.
Prophete de Guye (FR) Apple Tree gelding out of Kasibelle De Guye.
Rathmulen (IRE) (12-0) won at Necarne 3m ire ptp frm in May beating Ballydonagh (12-0) by a distance, 14 ran.
Saddler George (IRE) Saddlers' Hall gelding out of a moderate racemare.
Stop The Show (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 5f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 18, 6l behind Silly Wupple (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf (4) gd in Oct.
Teddy's Reflection (IRE) Beneficial gelding out of winning hurdler Regal Pursuit.
Court Princess 33-1 (10-9) Always in rear, 15th of 16, well behind Kingston Lane (11-2) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gs in Nov.
