in touch, headway to lead 2f out, driven clear entering final furlong
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4f out, led 3f out, headed 2f out, no chance with winner
always towards rear
always behind, tailed off over 5f out
chased leader, every chance approaching 3f out until one pace approaching 2f out
held up mid-division, tracked leaders halfway, ridden approaching 3f out, one pace final 2f
led, raced wide on both bends, headed 3f out, weakened 2f out
always towards rear, tailed off from over 5f out
Alan King's Bob Back gelding Bakbenscher and the Phillip Hobbs-trained Tago Mago are both interesting newcomers in the concluding bumper but Or d'Oudairies has shown a decent level of form and is taken to open his account. John Quinn's gelding showed promise on his Wetherby debut and again at Uttoxeter when last seen in January and a chance is taken that he may be fit enough on his return to open his account. Grumpy Bee would have claims given that Richard Phillips has his team in better form now, while Elegant Boy is probably better than he showed on his Kelso debut. Or d'Oudairies is the clear form pick though and he is preferred.
Bakbenscher Bob Back gelding out of winning hurdler/chaser Jessolle.
Elegant Boy 10-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 6f out, weakened 4f out, 13th of 14, 29l behind Oscar Gogo (10-9) at Kelso 2m nhf (5) gf in May.
First Boy Polar Prince gelding, brother to bumper winner Autograph, half-brother to numerous jumping winners.
Fredrico Riverhead gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
Grumpy Bee (IRE) 17-2 (10-7) Held up behind, headway 6f out, kept on final 3f never nearer, 6th of 14, 16l behind Kilcannon Supreme (11-0) at Southwell 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Jun.
Higham 50-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, weakened over 4f out, completely tailed off, 15th of 16, well behind Blackpool Billy (10-11) at Towcester 2m nhf (4) sft in Nov.
Or d'Oudairies (FR) 22-1 (11-4) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Lodge Lane (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) hvy in Jan.
Tago Mago (IRE) Oscar gelding out of an unraced half-sister to Grand National winner Rough Quest.
Tara For Now 33-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, lost place over 5f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 12th of 18, well behind Pouilly (10-11) at Perth 2m nhf (5) gd in Jul.
Waterski 80-1 (10-13) Prominent until ran out when lost place after 6f ran out in race won by Killyglen (11-2) at Ayr 2m nhf (6) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Flirty Babe Killer Instinct filly out of an unraced mare.