chased leader, ridden 5f out, soon weakened
held up last, ridden and headway 5f out, chased leaders 3f out, one pace
held up in mid-division, reminder 6f out, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
chased leader, reminder 7f out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden 4f out, challenged and every chance over 2f out, ran on well final furlong, just failed
led, ridden and headed 5f out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, ridden and lost touch 7f out, soon behind
held up in mid-division, headway on bit 6f out, led 5f out, ridden 3f out, wandered 2f out, ran on gamely under pressure final furlong
held up in touch, ridden 7f out, one pace
mid-division, ridden 5f out, soon weakened
The three to concentrate on here are probably Matelot, Bumper and Freeline Fury, and we take Matelot to come good at the third time of asking. Francois Doumen has sent the five-year-old over for two previous bumpers with his best effort being first time up at Newbury, in a decent contest, when Robert Thornton partnered him to a 12 length defeat by Lutea. Stuck in the mud last time at Windsor, he will benefit from the drying ground here, and despite those defeats his form is better than anything else achieved thus far here, so we take him to get it right. Bumper would be an aptly-named winner and can be expected to come on for his recent Newbury debut, when not disgraced and needing the run. Market confidence would be a plus, as it would for Freeline Fury. Paul Webber's runners do well in this sphere, and with this one being related to three winning jumpers, we can see him coming good sooner or later. A decent debut is anticipated, but we take Matelot to be up to the task.
