reluctant to go to post, very slowly away behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
chased clear leader until 4th, close up, chased leader 4 out, led when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden and edged left, ridden and ran on
held up, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off
in touch, headway 6th, led soon after 6th, ridden and headed 2 out, faded flat
led and gifted clear lead, reduced lead 4th, headed soon after 6th, weakened quickly, tailed off
in rear, outpaced 5th, tailed off
close up, ridden before 2 out, kept on one pace flat
tracked leaders, chased leader 4 out until next, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
in rear, outpaced 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
keen, held up, headway 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat
Dual bumper winner DANS LE VENT found the minimum trip on good ground too sharp on his hurdling bow at Huntingdon but ran much better when chasing home Slate House at Cheltenham and this should be within his scope. Echo Express won a Doncaster bumper in March and was only headed in the dying strides on his debut over timber at Kelso. He'll have come on a bundle for that run and looks certain to go well while Musical Slave didn't get the run of the race in a huge field of bumpers at Punchestown in April and is one to keep an eye on for the future. Winning point-to-pointer New Quay ran poorly on his hurdling debut at Aintree but should have come on for the experience while Euxton Lane made a promising debut in a Bangor bumper and is another to note in a better than average opener.
Corzeam (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Reluctant start, soon in touch, chased clear leader when not fluent 3rd, lost place 3 out, weakened and pulled up before next, at Ascot 2m (3) gd in Nov.
Dans Le Vent (FR) 9-4 (11-0) In touch, tracked winner from 3rd, challenged before 3 out, switched inside last, soon ridden and kept on same pace, held flat, 2nd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Slate House (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m mdn (3) gd in Oct.
Euxton Lane (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 3f out, edged left over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Ballygomartin (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f (6) gd in Oct.
Haafapiece 4-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led after 1st, headed before last, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Mr One More (11-6) at Stratford 2m mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Mahler Bay (IRE) 18-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 9th, hit next, soon struggling, never a threat, 6th of 8, 28l behind Mullaghmurphy Blue (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Musical Slave (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Raced in 12th early, improved to track leaders towards outer from before straight, no impression and not clear run briefly under 2f out, kept on same pace after, 6th of 23, 3 3/4l behind Roaring Bull (11-7) at Punchestown 2m Good - Yielding in Apr.
New Quay (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, outpaced before 2 out, never a threat, 8th of 10, dist behind On The Blind Side (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Real Warrior (IRE) 2-1 (12-2) Chsd ldr, 2nd 4out, chall 3out, ld 2out, 1l adv last, sow to line, in command, won at Lingstown 3m mdn sft in Mar beating Circuit Court (12-2) by 1l, 13 ran.
Secret Melody Sakhee's Secret gelding out of Montjeu's Melody.
Tayzar 5-1 (11-4) Behind, headway over 6f out, weakened over 4f out, tailed off, 7th of 10, dist behind Senor Lombardy (11-4) at Hexham 2m (6) hvy in Oct.
Echo Express (IRE) 6-5fav (11-0) Held up in touch, closer order 3rd, led 2 out, ridden after last, caught post, 2nd of 12, shd behind Temple Man (11-0) at Kelso 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct.
