held up, headway to chase leaders over 4f out, one pace final 2f
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced
behind, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, switched left and stayed on inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 3f out
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, soon hard ridden, weakened final furlong
always rear division, ridden and struggling halfway
raced wide with leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
raced wide, never better than mid-division
with leaders, chased winner from over 2f out, stayed on same pace under pressure inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened over 3f out
with leaders, hard ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
with leaders, definite advantage over 3f out, hard ridden final furlong, kept on well
in touch until ridden and weakened over 3f out
held up in rear, pushed along and kept on from over 1f out
Probably best to concentrate on the usual candidates which means that our nominal short-list comprises Lidar, Swell Fellow and ZAZAMIX. This bumper has produced some smart horses over the years and Nicky Henderson won this with the well regarded Procas De Thaix last year. His bumper horses are usually pretty forward and this first foal of a hurdles winner in France may be up to the task. Lidar is related to Flat winners in France and looks the part on paper, Swell Fellow is related to a couple of modest Flat performers on these shores and both hail from yards that should have some idea of where they stand in the pecking order. Mayberry is a half-sister to Blaeberry and her yard has significantly improved their modest bumper record this season, Wray Castle is a half-brother to Skanky Biscuit whilst Vino Griego was a relatively expensive purchase and we'll chuck the name of Monsieur Cadou in for good measure as another to keep an eye on. Time will tell us which of these are geese and which are swans but it's reasonable to hope that Zazamix could develop into a topflight performer.
Alesandro Mantegna (IRE) Peintre Celebre gelding out of Mantua.
Boffin Kalanisi gelding out of Phi Beta Kappa.
Fred Kennet Kadastrof gelding out of Evaporate.
Lidar (FR) Take Risks gelding out of Light Wave.
Monsieur Cadou (FR) Cadoudal gelding out of Dame De Trefles.
Mumbles Pier (IRE) Definite Article gelding out of Golden Jorden.
Respective Way Sakhee gelding out of Leisurely Way.
Saxon Blue Josr Algarhoud gelding out of Highland Blue.
Secret Stash (IRE) Oscar gelding out of No Blues.
Swell Fellow Beat All gelding out of Great Intent.
Uncle Arther Bahamian Bounty gelding out of Auntie Dot Com.
Vino Griego (FR) Kahyasi gelding out of Vie de Reine.
Wild Bury Overbury gelding out of Wild Happening.
Wray Castle (IRE) Desert Prince gelding, half-brother to 3 winners between 1m & 1m2f.
Zazamix (FR) Sagamix gelding out of Ombre Bleue.
Bahreyna Bahamian Bounty filly out of Tereyna.
Mayberry Silver Patriarch filly out of Top Berry.
Mombim (IRE) Milan filly out of Sallyobee.
