held up in last trio, headway into 4th home turn, plugging on when left modest 3rd 2 out
tracked leaders on inside, stumbled and unseated rider 5th
off the pace and always behind, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, never a factor, tailed off
well in rear, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, never a factor, tailed off
led, wandered into 1st, headed 4th, tracked leader, left in lead bend after 3 out, 3 lengths ahead and going well when left clear 2 out, ridden to assert between last two
off the pace and always towards rear, never involved, left remote 5th 2 out
chased winner until after 2nd, chased leaders, weakened quickly home turn, left remote 4th 2 out
raced keenly in close 3rd, tracked winner after 2nd, led 4th, carried wide by loose horse bend after 3 out and headed, chased winner, 3 lengths down when fell heavily 2 out
raced keenly in close 3rd out wide, pushed along and held when left in 3 lengths 2nd 2 out, ridden between last two, no chance with winner
An interesting opener featuring several bumper and points winners. Paul Nicholls is responsible for MEATLOAF (NAP) and Annie K with Harry Cobden, unsurprisingly, opting for the former. Both of his wins last season came on this track and his yard has won this in each of the last three years. Dancing In Brazil also made a winning debut in a bumper last term, however, and went on to place at Cheltenham and Bangor. Ballee could go well racing for a new yard while Walk On High chased home three subsequent winners at Exeter last December.
Ballee (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Led, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, went clear with winner inside final furlong, held close home, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Flying Fortune (10-3) at Stratford 2m mdn (5) gs in Mar.
Dancing In Brazil 2-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Push The Button (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (4) gd in Apr.
Ferret Jeeter 10-1 (11-4) Prominent, mistake 7th, led next, headed and ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, dist behind Hot Rod Lincoln (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn (4) gd in May.
Hour Star 66-1 (10-13) Keen in rear, improved to track leaders after 3 out, pushed along before next, never seriously involved, 5th of 10, 30 1/4l behind Farnoge (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) hvy in Oct.
Meatloaf (FR) 2-1fav (11-1) Made all, steadily increased tempo inside final mile final, asserted 1f out, always doing enough inside final 110 yards, pushed out, comfortable, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (5) gs in Apr beating Classic King (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Mountain Bay (IRE) 200-1 (10-13) Towards rear, well beaten 2 out, no impression, 7th of 11, dist behind Shetland Tony (10-13) at Stratford 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Thirtyfour Thirty 50-1 (10-10) In rear, jumped slowly 7th, not fluent next, outpaced and struggling 4 out, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Butch (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gs in Oct.
Walk On High 22-1 (11-0) Rear mid-division, headway into mid-division before 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, shaken up 2 out and no extra, 4th of 17, 12 3/4l behind Grey Dawning (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gs in Dec.
Lily Luna (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Prominent, ridden and disputing 2nd 3f out, no impression on winner over 1f out, weakened into 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 15, 18l behind Micks Jet (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) gd in Apr.
Annie K (IRE) 5-2 (10-9) Led, pushed along when headed 2f out, weakened gradually inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 18 3/4l behind Secret Squirrel (10-6) at Taunton 2m (5) gd in Mar.
