chased leader, led 4f out, kept on strongly final 2f, ridden out final furlong
raced on inner, led until 4f out, soon weakened, tailed off
close up, driven along in 4th over 4f out, one pace final 2f
soon in touch, pushed along over 4f out, one pace final 3f
in touch, tracked leading pair 7f out, ridden and edged left 2f out, soon one pace
raced wide, held up in rear, steady headway halfway, chased leaders 5f out, chased winner over 2f out, edged left and held final furlong
pushed along halfway, always in rear, tailed off
always in rear, struggling 7f out, tailed off
raced on inside, chased leaders, under pressure 6f out, one pace final 3f, tailed off
chased leaders to halfway, soon lost place and struggling over 7f out, tailed off
chased leaders until lost place over 7f out, tailed off
always rear-division, pushed along 8f out, soon struggling, tailed off
With the yard going well we'll take JOHANN SABESTIAN to win the bumper, while Lundy Sky and Magical Treasure look capable of making him work for it. The last-named probably showed the best piece of public form of any of these when runner-up in a fast ground Fontwell bumper last May, which was an improvement on his debut of a year earlier. The gelding appears to need wrapping in cotton wool and so has just his third start in as many seasons today. He has to prove himself on the ground, plus he has those well being questions to answer and we will take him on. Lundy Sky went well enough on good to soft when also a runner-up in this sphere at Worcester in October. He can show improvement and should be thereabouts. Dusky Bob was a shade disappointing when a well beaten favourite on debut, but should come on for the experience and a market check is advised to see if there is confidence from connections in a recovery mission. Little Blackbeetle looks likely to be capable, but our vote goes to Johann Sabestian. Jonjo O'Neill's five-year-old showed plenty of promise on his Chepstow debut over Christmas when the ground was heavy. He may appreciate today's better ground, the yard has a good record in these contests, and with the champion up to aid safe passage, we will take him to find enough improvement to break his duck.
Dusky Bob (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, struggling over 4f out, stayed on from over 2f out, never near leaders, 4th of 13, 20l behind Cue Card (10-7) at Fontwell 1m 6f NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
El Passos (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Always in rear, tailed off, 15th of 18, well behind Mizzurka (10-6) at Newbury 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Hazy Bay 50-1 (10-13) Mid-division, pushed along 6f out, soon struggling, tailed off, 7th of 11, 29l behind Kaybeew (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 2f NH flat (5) hvy in Nov.
Johann Sabestian (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 9, 16l behind Crannaghmore Boy (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Just Tootsie 28-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, weakened before 3f out, 8th of 12, 29l behind Ohio Gold (10-8) at Wincanton 2m NH flat (6) hvy.
Lundy Sky 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 7f out, soon pushed along, chased winner inside final 2f, edged left under pressure 1f out, stayed on, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Friendship Bay (11-4) at Worcester 2m NH flat (5) gs in Oct.
Magical Treasure 12-1 (11-2) Behind, headway over 3f out, stayed on from 2f out, left 2nd just inside final furlong, kept on well towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind She's On The Case (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gf in May.
Mr Murray (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Chased leaders until weakened 3f out, 11th of 14, 14l behind Yemeni Princess (10-1) at Lingfield 2m mdn nat hunt flt (4-6yo) (6) std.
Stormy Brook (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Prominent 12f, last of 13, well behind De Forgotten Man (11-3) at Towcester 2m NH flat (6) sft.
Little Blackbeetle 28-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, driven and outpaced over 5f out, soon behind, 10th of 15, 25l behind Banjaxed Girl (10-12) at Warwick 2m N H flat (5) gd in Nov.
Roof Top Tango 50-1 (10-12) Behind, pushed along 7f out, struggling from 5f out, tailed off, 12th of 13, well behind Deejan (10-12) at Ludlow 2m N H flat (4) sft in Dec.
The Devon Daisy 40-1 (10-9) Always behind, tailed off halfway, 14th of 16, well behind Chartreux (10-13) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) sft in Dec.
Belturbet (IRE) Daggers Drawn filly out of Winged Victory.
Hot Chipotle 100-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden over 5f out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 13, well behind Cue Card (10-7) at Fontwell 1m 6f NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
