tracked leaders, outpaced halfway, driven and weakened over 3f out
in touch, challenged over 4f out, driven and one pace final 2f
soon led, ridden and headed over 4f out, weakened final 2f
held up in rear, headway 6f out, driven and lost place final 3f
in touch, ridden 4f out, soon beaten
held up, headway 5f out, soon behind
prominent, led over 4f out, driven and headed approaching final furlong, no extra inside
held up in rear, headway over 4f out, led approaching final furlong, ridden out
mid-division, driven and tailed off final 3f
held up in rear, headway 6f out, driven and one pace final 2f
The usual bumper rules apply here, namely consideration for runners from yards that do well in this sphere plus current form and ground concerns, and without prior market knowledge we will side with EXCITING CAR to get the better of Sir Mulberry Hawk and Southerness. Tom Tate has a 33 per cent strike rate and Exciting Car can enhance that. His latest effort was good in context and this slower ground will probably be more to his liking, so he can build once more to win this. Sir Mulberry Hawk is much respected as he represents one of the leading lights in this discipline, Alan Swinbank. Two starts at Sedgefield last spring were promising and with that to give some confidence and the likelihood that he will be fit first-time he should be bang there. Southerness is another to have run well in what is now three previous bumpers and pedigree suggests that he should handle this slower ground, so he can't be ruled out if handling this tighter circuit. Apache Blue will surely be better for his Wetherby debut, when the yard hit a short rough patch, and a market check regarding him is advised, while the same goes for Sue Smith's pair, debutant Boxbury and Shadrack, who can show more than on his debut. One for the notebook really, but Exciting Car can hit top gear.
Apache Blue (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, lost place over 6f out, soon beaten, 10th of 14, 37l behind Kealshore Lass (10-0) at Wetherby 2m nhf (6) sft in Jan.
Boxbury (IRE) Witness Box gelding out of Miss Aylesbury.
Exciting Car (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 6f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 14l behind Bellvano (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (5) gd.
Quelbal (FR) 125-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, weakened approaching 4f out, 13th of 14, well behind Moorlands Teri (10-2) at Bangor 2m 1f nhf (5) sft in Dec.
Roman Cruise 25-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, rallied final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 14, 7l behind Rubys Cove (11-2) at Wetherby 2m nhf (6) gd in Jun.
Shadrack (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 7f out, ridden to chase leaders over 3f out, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 16, 25l behind Saveiro (10-12) at Catterick 2m nhf (6) sft in Jan.
Sir Mulberry Hawk 8-11fav (10-5) Close up on outside, ridden to challenge when slipped 3f out, soon outpaced, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Cuigny (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Apr.
Southerness 11-4 (11-2) Towards rear, smooth headway from over 6f out to track leaders over 2f out, ridden and no impression, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Meridian City (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m mdn nhf (5) gf in Nov.
Ivanshaya (IRE) 80-1 (11-2) In touch, lost place over 7f out, soon behind, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Basford Lass (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mrs nhf (6) hvy in Jan.
Nightboat To Cairo (IRE) Turtle Island mare out of Garryduff Breeze.
La Bacouetteuse (FR) 50-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, some headway over 3f out, never trouble leaders, 8th of 16, 22l behind Donny Briggs (10-12) at Newcastle 1m 6f nhf (5) sft in Dec.
