held up mid-division, chased leaders 4f out, kept on final furlong
led, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up, pushed along before halfway, weakened over 4f out
held up mid-division, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, weakened over 3f out
held up towards rear, ridden over 6f out, weakened over 4f out
held up in touch, kept on same pace final 2f
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
held up mid-division, weakened over 2f out
towards rear, pushed along over 6f out, kept on from over 1f out, no impression
prominent, lost place over 3f out
With four winners from just five runners in bumpers over the past five seasons the Twiston-Davies runner has to be high on the short-list and is enough to win DE BANSHA MAN the vote ahead of The Grassy and Battle Group. The selection is unlikely to be much of a price given the trainer's record in these contests at the track but he showed ability to finish second in a point at Templemore and is one of the likelier candidates. The Grassy went one better in a point at Kirkistown but showed only a fair level of form when finishing one place worse off at Towcester in May. Battle Group showed just why he had been made favourite on debut when pulling 13 lengths clear of the field over course and distance in July and he created enough of an impression to merit respect despite the penalty. Young Buddy, Hawaii Klass and Hold Fast are others to bear in mind but the stats point to De Bansha Man.
Battle Group 3-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 4f out, led on bit well over 2f out, drew clear from over 1f out, won at Perth 2m NH flat (5) gd in Jul beating Finellas Fortune (10-2) by 13l, 9 ran.
De Bansha Man (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Alw pr, in 1st 3 till 4th 5out, no impress in 4th from 2out, ko to go 3rd when left 2nd last, ko, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Rif (11-7) at Templemore 3m ire ptp in Apr.
Flaygray 7-2fav (11-1) Mid-division, ridden over 4f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 16, 21l behind Karmadice (10-8) at Newcastle 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
Hawaii Klass Classic Cliche gelding out of Youandi.
Hold Fast (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Delko.
Solway Flight Double Trigger gelding out of Double Flight.
Surely Blue (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Led until after 3f, soon weakened, tailed off from halfway, last of 14, well behind Storm Brig (10-11) at Kelso 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
The Grassy (IRE) 13-8fav (10-12) In touch, headway on inside 3f out, chased winner over 2f out, hard ridden from over 1f out, hung right and no extra, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Saxona (10-9) at Towcester 2m mdn NH flat (5) gf in May.
Via Roma 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced halfway, no impression from over 2f out, 5th of 11, 18l behind Drumbaloo (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) gf.
Young Buddy 4-1 (10-0) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden and kept on same pace final 2f, 4th of 14, 13l behind Kealshore Lass (10-0) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Glaced Over Overbury filly out of Brun Bess.
Middleham Meg 25-1 (10-2) Mid-division, outpaced over 4f out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, well behind Alverstone (10-8) at Worcester 2m NH flat (5) gs in Aug.
