held up, headway to lead over 4f out, headed just inside final furlong, kept on, just held
held up in touch, weakened 6f out, tailed off 3f out
led, headed over 6f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led over 6f out, headed over 4f out, stayed on to lead just inside final furlong, headed towards finish
held up in touch, outpaced over 4f out, stayed on to lead towards finish, just held on
held up mid-division, chased leaders 6f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, outpaced 6f out
with leaders, outpaced 6f out
with leaders, stumbled after 3f, kept on same pace from over 3f out
FRIDAYTHORPE can gain compensation for his Wetherby defeat in the bumper, while Bishop's Heir, Vivona Hill and River Music are all respected. The Mick Easterby-trained selection was backed for that West Yorkshire debut and ran well, finding just one too good. Soft ground suits, and with the yard in form and some improvement likely we will side with the Flemensfirth gelding. Bishop's Heir will be a tough nut to crack after impressing when scoring in similar conditions here last time, but it is notoriously tricky to win under a penalty in this sphere and on that basis we'll take him on. Vivona Hill confounded that statistic by defying a penalty to win a second bumper last time out at Catterick. His task will be arduous now that he tries to defy an even greater burden and on the softest ground he has encountered. The powerful Howard Johnson yard give a debut here to River Music, who comes from a family of bumper winners. Soft ground should be no problem if pedigree is any guide and he is likely to be fit first time, so a win would be no big shock. Little else makes any obvious appeal here and we'll side with Fridaythorpe.
Vivona Hill 7-4fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, led after 4f, clear 2f out, won at Catterick 2m nhf (5) gs in Dec beating Mr Syntax (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Its Beyond Me And Beyond gelding out of Hand On Heart.
Stanley Hall 33-1 (10-12) Led, headed over 3f out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 34l behind Elsafeer (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (6) sft in Feb.
Bishops Heir 7-1 (10-7) Always prominent, led over 2f out, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 2m nhf (6) hvy in Jan beating Cunning Clarets (10-7) by 6l, 16 ran.
Ceasar's Return Kayf Tara gelding out of Supreme Lass.
Fridaythorpe (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Always prominent, challenged over 3f out, soon ridden, edged left and kept on final furlong, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Kealshore Lass (10-0) at Wetherby 2m nhf (6) sft in Jan.
I'll Be Frank 20-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 3f out, 10th of 13, 30l behind Hunters Belt (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (5) gs in Jan.
Landofgreenginger 100-1 (10-0) Held up, ridden 4f out, stayed on past beaten horses final 2f, 10th of 16, 34l behind Shut The Bar (10-0) at Catterick 2m mdn nhf (6) gs in Jan.
River Music (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Shean Bracken.
