mid-division, ridden 6f out, and weakened
in touch, ridden 6f out, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, weakened over 4f out
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, hung left over 1f out and kept on one pace
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, led over 1f out, ran on well
held up and keen, headway 6f out, hard ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out and faded final furlong
held up and keen, headway 6f out, stayed on towards finish
in touch, weakened halfway, tailed off over 4f out, pulled up and dismounted over 1f out
in touch, ridden 7f out, soon weakened
As is often the case in bumpers, there is little for backers to go on here and what can only be a tentative vote goes to Fresh Winter, who is marginally preferred to Merchant Red and Gone Tomorrow. The last mentioned ran a fair race on his debut in what was a better race than this at Newbury so he has to be respected. Reg Hollinshead's Andthatsthewayitis is bred to be useful and would not need to be out of the ordinary to make a winning debut, while Ceebee was well held on his Hexham debut and is hard to back with any confidence. No Signal was similarly well held first time out and of more interest may be Paul Webber's Merchant Red, particularly if the market speaks in his favour. This should not take a great deal of winning though and Fresh Winter has the best form on offer so he gets the vote.
Andthatsthewayitis Environment Friend gelding out of a moderate racemare.
Ceebee 25-1 (10-10) Towards rear, never dangerous, 9th of 14, well behind Laborec (10-10) at Hexham 2m mdn nhf (6) gf in Apr.
Fresh Winter 3-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 12, 21l behind Brook No Argument (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Mar.
Gone Tomorrow (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Never better than mid-division, 12th of 21, 24l behind Diamond Harry (10-9) at Newbury 2m nhf (2) sft in Mar.
Working Title (IRE) Oscar gelding out of an unraced mare.
Merchant Red (USA) 9-2 (10-7) Tracked leaders, chased leaders 5f out, weakened over 3f out, 11th of 16, 24l behind Gun Smith (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nhf (6) gd in Jan.
No Signal 50-1 (11-3) In rear, headway 10f out, every chance over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 9th of 15, 18l behind The Package (10-12) at Towcester 2m mdn nhf (5) gf in Apr.
Robin de La Folie (FR) 33-1 (11-2) Led, headed over 4f out, soon weakened, last of 8, well behind Berwick Law (11-9) at Ayr 2m nhf (6) hvy in Mar.