held up towards rear, steady headway from 4 out, chased leading pair 2 out, disputing 2nd under pressure flat, no chance with winner
held up in mid-division, effort to track leader 9th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, steady headway from 9th, joined leaders when pecked 4 out, led on bit 2 out, ridden clear flat
prominent, lost place 7th, soon tailed off
behind, mistake 5th, ridden next, tailed off and pulled up after 8th
led to 3rd, pressed leader, led narrowly again 8th to 4 out, soon weakened
held up, headway under pressure approaching 4 out, one pace and no impression after next
prominent until lost place 7th, tailed off when blundered 9th
behind, steady headway from 4 out, chased leaders next, one pace last
held up, headway 8th, closing on leaders in 5th when ran out bend after 9th
held up, blundered 8th, ridden and edged left from 4 out, no impression and beaten 2 out
led 3rd, narrowly headed 8th, led again 4 out, headed 2 out, kept on to hold 2nd flat, no chance with winner
There was plenty to like about the way that Sherkin Island won at Lingfield last time and he can follow up here, with Great Travel, Bonus Bridge and Duchamp rated as his biggest dangers. The selection beat Kalca Mome on that occasion and has been raised seven pounds for his efforts. However, that seems reasonable to us and even though Kalca Mome is three pounds better off at the weights today the selection was having only his first run of the season that day, and can improve more than his rival. Duke Of Buckingham was well behind Great Travel at Kempton in October, and the latter, raised 15 pounds for that Sunbury success, will not have things easy but Paul Nicholls' runner can still go well. However, Bonus Bridge, who was fourth at Kempton, is now 15 pounds better off for the nine-and-a-half lengths that he has to find with the winner and must be afforded respect. Cobbet, Hors La Loi and Killultagh Storm were other also-rans at Kempton, but we have probably yet to see the best of Bambi de l'Orne in this country. Being five pounds below the mark from which he won at Stratford last October, the locally-trained Duchamp cannot be ruled out of things and he is the type to go well for the fitting of cheekpieces but, once again, we are happy to side with Sherkin Island.
