tracked leader, close up when not fluent 4th, led narrowly after 3 out, drew clear approaching last, driven out, comfortably
prominent, joined winner after 3 out, ridden after next, one pace approaching last, well held after
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, headway under pressure before 2 out, soon ridden, went modest 4th last, no chance with leaders
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
behind, headway after 3 out, chased clear leaders before next, never a threat, lost modest 4th last
mid-diviison, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, driven to chase clear leaders before 2 out, never on terms
prominent to after 3rd, soon behind, no danger after
mid-division, headway into 3rd after 3 out, driven and kept on approaching last, not reach front pair
always behind
led, clear after 3rd until next, mistake 4 out, ridden and headed after next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
The two previous winners may well dominate this with Newbury scorer HIGH BRIDGE (NAP) preferred to Top Tug. Ben Pauling’s charge, sixth in last season’s Champion Bumper, looked a natural hurdler at the Berkshire track but his likely market rival, a recruit from the Flat, jumped stickily when a well-beaten third at Huntingdon and wasn’t foot-perfect when winning earlier at Kempton either. Donald McCain runs two with Flat winner Man Look almost certain to improve on his hurdling debut at Newbury. Jockey bookings suggests he’s preferred to French import Culmination. Sigurd was moderate on the Flat but showed some promise when fourth at Taunton last month.
High Bridge 5-2jfav (11-0) Tracked leaders, 2nd travelling well before 3 out, led before 2 out, ridden clear run-in, comfortably, won at Newbury 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec beating Chelsea Flyer (11-0) by 3l, 17 ran.
Top Tug (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, went 3rd flat but well held by front pair, 3rd of 16, 10 1/2l behind Glaring (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Dec.
As And When (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, well behind 3 out, 13th of 16, dist behind Strong Pursuit (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Dec.
Bocasien Desbois (FR) 100-1 (11-2) Mid-division, dropped to rear after 5th, soon struggling, tailed off 3 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Sam Spinner (11-9) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Jan.
Culmination (8-11) won at Argentan 1m 4f mdn stks gd in Mar beating Sarintia (8-12) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Docali (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) In rear, pushed along 5 out, never dangerous, 6th of 7, dist behind Fattsota (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (5) gd in Jan.
Framley Garth (IRE) 50-1 (9-6) Held up, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 28 1/4l behind Machine Learner (9-2) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Highland Castle 7-2 (10-12) Keen, in rear, hit 4th, ridden and weakened 2 out, hit last, 6th of 7, 32 1/2l behind Al Reesha (10-5) at Fakenham 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Minella Suite (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 14, dist behind Lough Derg Jewel (11-0) at Kelso 2m 7f mdn (5) gs in Dec.
Parisian Charmer 200-1 (10-12) Held up in touch and keen, struggling from 5th, 10th of 11, dist behind Master Of Irony (10-12) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Sigurd (GER) 100-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway from 3 out, went 5th before 2 out, one pace, 4th of 11, 12 3/4l behind Volpone Jelois (10-7) at Taunton 2m mdn (4) gd in Dec.
Time Of My Life (GER) 66-1 (10-12) In touch, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, dist behind Craggaknock (11-5) at Wetherby 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Pen Her In 66-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next, at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) gs in Dec.
Man Look 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off, 14th of 17, dist behind High Bridge (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec.
