slowly into stride, led 2nd, ridden and jumped left 2 out, hard ridden approaching last, headed soon after, hung left flat, kept on final 50 yards but not pace of winner
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
chased leader, ridden after 4th, weakened approaching 2 out
always behind, no impression
led to 2nd, chased leader until ridden approaching 2 out, weakened quickly after
mid-division, ridden and effort 3 out, kept on same pace to go 3rd 2 out, weakened from last
always towards rear, ridden 5th, weakened quickly and pulled up after 3 out
held up in touch, chased leader from 3 out, challenged on bit 2 out, ridden and led soon after last, driven out flat
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden after 5th, soon weakened
Bureaucrat is hard to oppose and should have little more than an exercise canter, with Topamendip the one to chase him home. Quite simply, Bureaucrat is a class above these, having won in the style of a useful novice at Newbury and Hereford before lining up in Grade 2 company at Aintree in the race won by Straw Bear. A mistake at the fifth seemed to knock the stuffing out of him that day and he was pulled up, but there will be no similar occurrence here surely, and the Hobbs inmate will be a short price to quickly make amends. Topamendip caught a tartar in the shape of The Painter Man in an Exeter bumper five days ago and is turned out quickly to make his hurdling bow. It is asking too much of him to take on and beat the selection, but he will improve as time goes on. Cold Mountain was well behind Topamendip's stablemate Turko here last time and is another with it all to do along with Bold Trump who steps up from selling grade. Bureaucrat should easily oblige but that will be factored into his price unfortunately.
Bureaucrat 10-1 (10-8) Led, headed approaching 4th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Straw Bear (11-3) at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs, 16 ran.
Bold Trump 50-1 (11-1) Led, clear approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed approaching last, soon one pace, 2nd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Sistema (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f nov sll hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Lord of Methley 100-1 (11-0) Always behind, 6th of 9, 30l behind Welcome Stranger (11-0) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Valleyofthekings (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened 6th pulled up 3 out in race won by Prestbury Knight (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Dec, 9 ran.
Cold Mountain (IRE) 50-1 (10-4) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, some progress, never dangerous, 5th of 17, 21l behind Turko (11-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Lyrical Girl (USA) 33-1 (10-0) In touch, jumped right 1st, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 17, 24l behind Simonovski (11-0) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (4) gf.
Roche Ecossaise (FR) 66-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, soon tailed off, 14th of 18, well behind Gentleman Jimmy (11-2) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Topamendip (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 6f out, ridden to chase winner 3f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Painter Man (10-4) at Exeter 2m 1f nhf (6) frm.
