held up in rear, headway over 6f out, chased leaders into straight, ridden and weakened 3f out
made all, ridden and came clear final 2f, kept on strongly (no time taken)
mid-division, pushed along 7f out, lost place early straight, tailed off final 3f
keen hold, in touch, pushed along 6f out, soon struggling, tailed off
took keen hold, always front rank, ridden and no chance with winner final 2f, kept on for well held 2nd
prominent, pushed along 3f out, soon weakened
raced wide, close up, pushed along 3f out, one pace final 2f and lost modest 3rd post
chased leaders, pushed along 6f out, weakened over 4f out
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway on wide outside over 4f out, kept on from 2f out, went modest 3rd last stride
took keen hold in rear, steady headway 5f out, pushed along 3f out, one pace and no impression final 2f
held up in rear, headway 4f out, one pace final 2f
keen hold, held up in rear, pushed along halfway, struggling final 4f, tailed off
This looks a competitive bumper on paper and preference is for KING RUFO to outpoint Wallace Monument, Adams Island and Spot The Ball. The selection proved himself with cut in the ground and ran very nicely on debut at Navan last month. The third has since come out and run well again, and the fourth has since won, so the form of that race looks very strong in context, and Michael O'Hare's gelding wouldn't have to improve much to take this. Wallace Monument has to shoulder a penalty for his Ludlow win last time, when he proved himself with cut in the ground. This will be much tougher and with that extra burden he can be taken on. Adams Island won an Irish point in May, since when he has joined Rebecca Curtis. Conditions will be no problem and it would be no surprise to see him show up very well. Jonjo O'Neill saddles Spot The Ball, who should improve for a good debut when runner-up at Uttoxeter last month. He will enjoy getting his toe in and is respected. Cresswell Pride struggled under a penalty last time and on jockey bookings Keith Goldsworthy's other runner, Crannaghmore Boy, looks likely to emerge ahead of his stablemate. As always watch the market for clues, but King Rufo will take some beating.
Cresswell Pride 18-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, ridden 3f out, well beaten over 2f out, 7th of 8, 34l behind Ghizao (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m NH flat Listed (1) sft in Nov.
Adams Island (IRE) 5-4 (12-0) Pr & ld, adv & mstk 2out & last, ko best, won at Ballybunion 3m ire ptp gd in May beating It's A Big Fella (12-0) by nk, 9 ran.
Bangor Mill (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place 5f out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 30l behind Megastar (11-0) at Sandown 2m NH flat (5) gd in Nov.
Bold Exit (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, challenged for 2nd over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 8, 8l behind You're So Vain (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Nov.
Crannaghmore Boy (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Pull hard, twds rr, prog to 4th 3out, 3rd 2out, sn ld, chall & hdd bef last where left in ld, ko onepcd, won at Kilsheelan 3m ire ptp gd in Oct beating Italian Legace (11-7) by 5l, 10 ran.
Going Nowhere Fast (IRE) Exit To Nowhere gelding out of Sister Gabrielle.
Jay J 50-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 8f out, hung left over 3f out, slightly hampered over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 16, 7l behind Line Tzigane (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gs in Jul.
King Rufo (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up early, 6th halfway, headway in 3rd 4f out, led 3f out, headed 2 1/2f out, ridden in 3rd 2f out, kept on to 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Perfect Smile (11-11) at Navan 2m N H flat hvy in Nov.
Mr Heaven (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Always behind, 11th of 15, 32l behind Gus Macrae (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft.
Silver Token 66-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway 9f out, not much room on bend 5f out, soon struggling, 7th of 13, 22l behind Dingat (10-13) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gs in Oct.
Spot The Ball (IRE) 11-4 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway 5f out, every chance 2f out, wandered over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Basford Bob (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Nov.
Strumble Head (IRE) Anshan gelding out of Milan Moss.
Evening Haze 50-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, outpaced over 5f out, 11th of 16, well behind Alegralil (11-1) at Bangor 2m 1f N H flat (5) gs in May.
Wallace Monument 11-4 (11-2) Tracked leader, led after 3f, edged left 2f out, driven over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, won at Ludlow 2m NH flat (5) gs in Nov beating Thunderstorm (11-2) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
