soon led, headed before halfway, weakened 3f out
held up, pushed along before halfway, quickly lost place, tailed off
chased leaders, chased winner over 1f out, kept on towards finish
led early, tracked leaders, outpaced over 3f out
held up towards rear, weakened before 3f out
held up, chased leaders over 5f out, weakened 4f out
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3f out, one pace
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3f out, no impression
held up, tracked leaders approaching 5f out, led well over 1f out, driven out
held up in touch, weakened before 2f out
tracked leaders and keen, weakened before 4f out
held up in touch, led before halfway, ridden 3f out, headed well over 1f out, kept on same pace
Hardly anything for us to go in in the opening division of the bumper and we will suggest TAKAMARU to take advantage of the allowances he receives, while Ruling Party and Briefcase are much respected. The last-named is one of just three runners here with public experience and he ran well on that Warwick debut, coming home fourth of 12, and beaten around five lengths. Cut in the ground suits and with the stable going better now he has to be high on the short-list. Ruling Party is another from a yard back in good form, and Alan King has traditionally done well with his bumper runners. This five-year-old was not an expensive purchase, but his dam won hurdles over 2m and 2m 4f in testing ground, and he should have bags of stamina. He looks likely to make a very good acount of himself. Just Tootsie is another related to winners, though it is probably more likely that both he and another eyecatcher, Ohio Gold, may be brought along a little more patiently. The selection, Takamaru, also hails from a yard that does well in this sphere and is a half-brother to several winners, including the top-class Tamarinbleu. He will stay further in time, but this is an ideal starting point. He should handle soft ground and with the age allowance plus an extra 3lbs off his back for having Johnny Farrelly on board, we will side with him.
Briefcase (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mostly raced wide, prominent, ran green over 2f out, one pace, 4th of 12, 5l behind Awesome Freddie (11-0) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) sft in Dec.
Cruiseindottravel (IRE) Saddlers' Hall gelding out of Kigali.
Five Star Wilsham (IRE) Bob's Return gelding out of Riverpauper.
Just The Job (IRE) Religiously gelding out of Fashions Side.
Just Tootsie Emperor Fountain gelding out of Thamesdown Tootsie.
Ruling Party Fleetwood gelding out of My Tern.
Well Refreshed 28-1 (11-3) Mid-division, weakened over 4f out, 6th of 18, 27l behind Lidar (10-8) at Doncaster 2m NH flat (2) gf in Feb '09.
Hill Forts Gloria (IRE) King's Theatre mare out of Ad Gloria.
Ohio Gold (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Kiniohio.
Pre Raphaelite (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, struggling over 3f out, never near leaders, 10th of 15, 13l behind Tetlami (11-2) at Cheltenham 1m 6f 4yo NH flat (Listed) (1) sft in Jan.
Sultan De Touzaine (FR) Robin Des Champs gelding out of Belle Nuit.
Takamaru (FR) Kapgarde gelding out of Tamainia.
