keen early, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on strongly
held up in rear, headway over 6f out, chased leaders over 2f out, kept on well closing stages
pulled hard in midfield, headway over 4f out, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, headway under pressure over over 3f out, soon weakened
led, hard pressed from over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
midfield, weakened over 5f out, eased
chased leaders, pushed along over 6f out, soon weakened
midfield, headway over 4f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened closing stages
pulled hard, tracking leader, lost place over 3f out, eased
This is tricky with the excellent Crawford yard, which enjoys such a strong record in these contests, fielding two contenders. Blayney Queen looks first choice on jockey bookings and the market should help signpost her chance on debut. Nervous Nineties looked a promising sort first time up and is respected, whilst the Bowen yard look to recent Irish point-to-point winner, Stormbay Bomber, in a potentially interesting bumper. THEATRICAL STYLE hasn't been seen since battling on strongly to land a Musselburgh bumper nearly 250 days ago but his yard is adept at readying inmates following an absence and Noel Fehily is booked. He looked a promising sort back in November on that racecourse bow under Rules and can hopefully prove the point now.
Theatrical Style (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Led early, soon tracking leader, driven to challenge over 3f out, led over 1f out, kept on well under pressure, won at Musselburgh 2m NH flat (5) gd in Nov beating It's High Time (11-2) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Backinthesaddle (IRE) Rudimentary gelding out of Grangeclare Lodge.
Itshard To No (IRE) Helissio gelding out of Miniballist.
Nervous Nineties 12-1 (10-13) Held up, took keen hold, headway on inside over 3f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no impression on winner and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Carnaross (11-4) at Stratford 2m cond NH flat (6) gf.
Stormbay Bomber (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Ap; led aft by-passing 4 out; ro wl, won at North Herefordshire 3m ptp gs in May beating Danny Mags (12-0) by 8l, 12 ran.
Willie Whistle 25-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, towards rear 7f out, tailed off over 3f out, last of 7, 48l behind Vinstar (11-5) at Carlisle 1m 6f 3yo NH flat (6) hvy in Nov '12.
Johnny Go Bollin Eric gelding out of Waverbeck.
Blayney Queen (IRE) Desert King mare out of Lady Blayney.
Teide Mistress (USA) 18-1 (10-2) In rear, weakened over 4f out, tailed off, 4th of 5, 47l behind Red Lion Rock (10-12) at Carlisle 1m 6f 3yo NH flat (6) hvy in Nov.
