held up, headway under pressure 4f out, chased winner and hung left final 2f, stayed on
made most until headed over 4f out, chased leader to over 2f out, stayed on same pace
held up, ridden 4f out, soon beaten
chased leaders, led over 4f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
always behind, lost touch halfway, soon tailed off
in touch until weakened quickly 4f out
pulled hard, prominent until weakened quickly 4f out, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened quickly, tailed off
pulled hard, raced wide throughout, held up, headway on wide outside over 3f out, led over 2f out, pushed out final furlong readily
with leader to over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, stayed on same pace
Ice Tea, Bradley Boy, Safari Adventures and Falcon Beneficial form the shortlist here, with the vote going to Ice Tea. Ice Tea scored decisively on his bumper debut and, having created a favourable impression there, can score again, although winners have difficulty in carrying penalties to victory in these types of races. Bradley Boy met a decent type when second at Bangor last time and he commands a lot of respect, and while Lady Bling Bling won her bumper well enough last time, this looks tougher. Of the others, Twist The Facts ran well at Fontwell but then disappointed at Folkestone and Robert Alner's Cool Society has something to like on breeding. However, more interesting contenders are Royal Shakespeare's half-brother, Safari Adventures, and Gary Moore's Falcon Beneficial, who made late headway in a fair affair at Newbury last time. They are both respected but, without the betting as a guide, we will side with Ice Tea.
Ice Tea (IRE) 11-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 7f out, hung left from 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, won at Plumpton 2m 2f nhf (H) gd in Nov beating Sydney Greenstreet (11-4) by 7l, 12 ran.
Bradley Boy (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, eased when beaten inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Unjust Law (11-8) at Bangor 2m 1f nhf (H) hvy.
That Man Fox Sovereign Water gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
Popsleebobross (IRE) Revoque mare out of 1m4f winner Flame Of Sion.
Romney Marsh 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened 10f out, soon tailed off, 15th of 16, well behind Ben's Turn (11-10) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nhf (H) gs in Nov.
Spring Chick 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, tailed off from 9f out, last of 12, well behind Sovietica (11-0) at Warwick 2m mrs nhf (H) gd in Oct.
Twist The Facts (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, led briefly over 3f out, soon weakened, 6th of 16, 29l behind Ben's Turn (11-10) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nhf (H) gs in Nov.
Cool Society Atraf gelding, half-brother to winners on the flat and over hurdles.
Montanah Jet Montjoy gelding out of a moderate racemare.
Safari Adventures (IRE) King's Theatre gelding, brother to the useful hurdler Royal Shakespeare, half-brother to winning miler Prince Of Thebes.
Falcon Beneficial (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Behind, some headway final 2f, never going pace to reach leaders, 8th of 19, 18l behind Inherent (10-12) at Newbury 1m 4f mrs nhf (H) gs in Dec.
Lady Bling Bling 9-1 (10-11) Tracked winner, ridden 4f out, led over 2f out, soon clear, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m mrs nhf (H) gs in Dec beating Mrs Goldfarb (11-0) by 9l, 15 ran.
