held up tracking winner, hit 8th, driven 11th, weakened quickly, lost touch 4 out
made all, jumped slowly 6th, reminder 7th, quickened up 9th, left clear from 4 out, eased down near finish, easily
A tricky little affair, with all three runners returning from a break, but Bonus Bridge was progressing nicely in the spring and gets a narrow vote over Red Socialite and Whereareyounow. The key to Bonus Bridge is finding his right trip as it appears on the evidence so far that he has stamina limitations, indeed his only victory came over two miles and one furlong. However, he has been campaigned over much longer and against better company during the past 12 months, and not surprisingly, has failed to last home. Even so, his front-running tactics nearly paid off at Huntingdon and Richard Johnson may try the same again here. Red Socialite won over hurdles at Newbury but apparently will not touch them at home. he has though been extensively schooled over the bigger obstacles, and this slow maturing sort should pay to follow eventually. Whereareyounow comes from an in-form stable and can obviously jump, having got round Cheltenham five times, and was second to Keen Leader at Ascot. However, he was beaten a distance by Jonjo's charge and races over a trip likely to be too short for him. All in all, Bonus Bridge has the potential to become a decent staying chaser and we will take him to make all.
