held up and raced wide, smooth headway approaching 4f out, ridden 3f out, one pace
close up, led approaching 4f out, kept on headed near finish
held up, weakened 6f out
held up mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened 5f out
held up, ridden 5f out, soon beaten
held up, headway approaching 6f out, no impression from 3f out
led, ridden and headed approaching 4f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on well to lead near finish
in touch and keen, weakened approaching 4f out
with leaders, every chance 3f out, soon ridden, one pace and no impression final furlong
Although it does always pay to follow bumper winners with penalties, it is hard to escape the claims of Zumrah in this modest event, with only Lunar Eclipse having shown enough to take him on with. The market should provide some clues as to whether the likes of Magic Brook or Saddlers' Wells are fancied, but on the evidence of his debut success at Aintree, Zumrah will take some stopping. Peter Bowen's four-year-old showed a smart turn of foot to beat Lindbergh Law at the Merseyside track, as he was entitled to, being a half-brother to four winners on the Flat, and despite a penalty, is hard to oppose. He will have improved for the experience and will go on the ground, so should comfortably brush aside Lunar Eclipse who has found one too good on each of his two runs this term, at Bangor and Hexham. He will be of more interest when eventually sent over hurdles, but will have to settle for second best again, with Zumrah all set to follow up.
Zumrah (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Held up and behind, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, quickened clear final furlong, comfortably, won at Aintree 2m 1f nhf (H) gd beating Lindbergh Law (11-11) by 4l, 9 ran.
Dalawan 16-1 (11-1) Held up, effort over 3f out, weakened when hung left over 1f out, 5th of 9, 14l behind Treasured Memories (10-8) at Ayr 2m nhf (H) gs in Jan.
Magic Brook Meadowbrook gelding out of a lightly-raced pointer.
Saddlers' Harmony (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, soon beaten, 10th of 18, 13l behind The Duke's Speech (11-0) at Newcastle 1m 6f nhf (H) gd in Dec.
Spa Wells (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Disputed lead until over 3f out, ridden when slipped over 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 30l behind Bluecoat (11-1) at Hexham 2m nhf (H) gf.
Lunar Eclipse 4-1 (10-11) In touch, outpaced over 3f out, rallied 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Lahib The Fifth (11-4) at Hexham 2m nhf (H) gf.
Pollensa Lady 33-1 (10-6) Towards rear, never dangerous, 7th of 9, 42l behind Bluecoat (11-1) at Hexham 2m nhf (H) gf.
Mae Moss 25-1 (10-8) Towards rear, headway 5f out to chase leaders, effort over 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 17l behind Lahib The Fifth (11-4) at Hexham 2m nhf (H) gf.
