in touch, ridden 5f out, soon weakened
raced keen, in touch, headway to lead over 6f out, stayed on strongly final 2f
with leader until weakened 4f out
towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase winner over 2f out, kept on under pressure
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, struggling from halfway
towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, headway under pressure over 3f out, kept on one pace final 2f
tracked leaders, effort and chance 3f out, no extra final 2f
towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leaders, closed up over 5f out, weakened over 3f out
led, headed over 6f out, soon weakened
The short list for the bumper has to contain Masra, New Lodge, Riverbank Rainbow and Supreme Builder, with our vote going to Masra. Alan Swinbank has done well with his bumper horses this season and, even though Masra is not one of his leading lights, he showed plenty of promise when second at Market Rasen on his debut and that form seems good enough to suggest he can play a leading part in this contest today. New Lodge has been placed in each of his starts to date and he too rates as a major player. Add to the list Riverbank Rainbow, a fair second on his course and distance debut, and Supreme Builder who, much as he was disappointing when sent off as a short-priced favourite last time, had earlier shown promise in a Grade 1 bumper at Leopardstown and surely has better to come. For us, these form the key players today with our selection being Masra.
Burnt Ember (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Soon led, headed halfway, remained prominent until weakened 3f out, 8th of 13, well behind Steady Tiger (11-4) at Kelso 2m mdn nhf (6) sft in Jan.
Harps Counsel (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, no impression from 5f out, 10th of 19, 37l behind Caramia (11-7) at Down Royal 2m nhf gs in Mar.
Supreme Builder 11-10fav (11-3) Held up and keen, headway to go prominent over 5f out, ridden 3f out, no extra, 5th of 12, 14l behind Kealshore Boy (11-1) at Newcastle 2m nhf (6) hvy in Feb.
Trocadeno (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4f out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, well behind O'Sogood (10-9) at Wetherby 1m 6f nhf (5) hvy in Jan.
Masra 11-4fav (10-10) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, hung left over 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Brook No Argument (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Mar.
New Lodge 5-6fav (10-8) Mid-division, smooth headway to track leaders 6f out, ridden and chased winner over 3f out, no extra final furlong, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Border Fox (10-8) at Musselburgh 1m 6f nhf (6) gs in Feb.
Ivegill 66-1 (10-11) Always behind, 8th of 14, 42l behind Turbo Linn (10-9) at Catterick 2m mrs nhf (5) sft in Mar.
Riverbank Rainbow 22-1 (10-12) In touch, headway to lead over 4f out, headed over 2f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 17, 4l behind Issaquah (10-9) at Hexham 2m mrs nhf (5) gs in Nov.