held up, headway on inside 5f out, weakened over 3f out
led, headed after 4f, chased leader until 5f out, soon hung left, weakened over 3f out
prominent, pushed along halfway, weakened 5f out
prominent, 2nd 5f out, edged slightly left well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
prominent, ridden and weakened 4f out
held up in touch, weakened under pressure 3f out
held up towards rear, headway after 5f, ridden and weakened 5f out
always behind, lost touch from halfway, tailed off
held up towards rear, not clear run and hampered 5f out, soon switched left, some headway over 3f out, no impression
held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, kept on same pace under pressure from over 1f out, took 2nd towards finish
took keen hold, soon chasing leader, led after 4f, headed and ran green over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, headway on inside 5f out, led over 1f out, ran on well
mid-division, headway after 5f, weakened over 3f out
held up towards rear, niggled along halfway, never near leaders
Less than usual for us to go on in this bumper and the pedigree of Vacario suggests that perhaps it's worth taking a chance on him, while Never Ask should be better for racecourse experience. Charlie Mann-trained Vacario is related to German Group performers and comes from a yard who do pretty well with limited numbers in this sphere, so he is chanced. Never Ask tries good ground after a pleasing soft ground Catterick debut and he can improve. The Little Master was not cheap and is a relatively rare runner in this form of the game for David Elsworth and on that basis alone merits plenty of respect. Evan Williams with Horsham Lad and Ricard Hannon with Gonnashine are others who catch the eye, but it's one to watch really and without market clues Vacario gets the nod.
Always Optimistic Puissance horse out of winning sprinter Glorious Aragon.
Gunner Rose Gunner B gelding out of winning chaser Fortria Rosie Dawn.
Job Two (IRE) Alderbrook gelding out of a moderate racemare.
Never Ask (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Held up, ridden to chase leaders well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 8, 10l behind Evelith Regent (10-9) at Catterick 2m nhf (6) sft.
West End Final 50-1 (10-10) Behind, ridden and weakened over 5f out, tailed off, 15th of 17, well behind Checkerboard (10-10) at Haydock 2m nhf (6) gd in Apr.
Flag Flier 40-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 7f out, 9th of 12, well behind Isintshelovely (11-2) at Fontwell 1m 6f mrs nhf (6) gd in Jan.
Scotchontherocks Jurado mare, half-sister to winning hurdler Madge McSplash.
Space Queen Alflora mare out of winning hurdler Be In Space.
Beware The Digger Warningford gelding, half-brother to 7f winner Jane Jubilee.
Horsham Lad (IRE) Muroto gelding, half-brother to several winning jumpers.
Puddington Bear Riverhead gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
The Little Master (IRE) Tendulkar gelding, half-brother to winners on the flat and over hurdles.
Vacario (GER) Acatenango gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
Fluoree (FR) Xaar filly, half-sister to useful jumper Fiumincino and winning miler Fleuraison.
Gonnashine Muhtarram filly out of winning hurdler/chaser Gulshan.
