A poor bumper can be taken by debutant TAKAMARU, while Escape Exit and Magical Treasure are both interesting. The selection cost 42,000 pounds as a three-year-old and is a half-brother to several winners including top chaser Tamarinbleu. Conditions and trip will suit, and his trainer David Pipe is among the winners, so we will side with him. Escape Exit is also well-related, being a half-sister to that multiple winning mare La Landiere and from the family of the popular Pipe hurdler Lough Derg. That is enough to get him on the short-list here, and he should act on the ground, although the yard is perhaps not in quite such good form as that of the selection. Magical Treasure was arguably fortunate to finish runner-up over slightly further at Fontwell when last seen in May, and he has plenty to prove on this ground, though does at least have some decent experience under his belt. Mr Navigator is another newcomer from winning stock that acted with cut in the ground, although they weren't quite as illustrious as others we have mentioned and we will take him on. Five Star Wilsham is not badly bred at all, although represents a yard that awaits its first-ever bumper winner, and with little else appealing we will side with Takamaru.
Escape Exit Exit To Nowhere gelding out of La Feuillarde.
Five Star Wilsham (IRE) Bob's Return gelding out of Riverpauper.
Magical Treasure 12-1 (11-2) Behind, headway over 3f out, stayed on from 2f out, left 2nd just inside final furlong, kept on well towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind She's On The Case (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gf in May.
Mr Navigator Alflora gelding out of Society News.
My Legal Lady 20-1 (10-2) Held up, ridden over 2f out, kept on under pressure from over 1f out, no impression, 5th of 11, 16l behind Crazy Chris (10-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) gd in Jul.
Silver Dove Morpeth filly out of Pigeon Loft.
Takamaru (FR) Kapgarde gelding out of Tamainia.
