tracked winner, ridden and outpaced by front pair when not fluent 2 out, no chance in modest 3rd after
made all, not fluent 2 out, soon clear, stayed on well, comfortably
chased front pair, reminder after 5th, struggling next, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
soon detached in rear, took closer order 4th, lost touch again 6th, headway to track front pair on outer 3 out, ridden to chase winner when mistake next, no chance after, mistake last
MISTER SHOWMAN hasn’t built on his debut hurdle win at Towcester and is not certain to appreciate the step up in trip, but he does at least have winning form and can take a weak looking contest. Blue Comet has been well beaten at a similar level on each of his last four outings and doesn’t look like a horse on the brink of improvement. Winning point-to-pointer Pop The Champers is of some interest on his hurdling debut, but Ebony Rose will have to step up considerably on the form she showed in bumpers to be competitive here.
Mister Showman 7-4 (11-1) Held up in touch in rear, headway on outside approaching 2 out, 2nd going well after 2 out, disputing held 2nd when mistake last, weakened run-in, 3rd of 6, 7 1/2l behind Champagne City (11-1) at Stratford 2m (4) gd in Jun.
Blue Comet 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 7th, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, jumped right and not fluent 2 out, beaten when jumped right last, no extra flat, 3rd of 12, 11 3/4l behind Otter Moon (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Jul.
Pop The Champers (IRE) 4-7 (12-2) Pr, 5l adv 1/2way, adv bef 5out, chall on outer aft 2out & hdd briefly, regained sl adv at last , kow, won at Ballysteen 3m gd in Apr beating Heez All Talk (11-11) by 12l, 3 ran.
Ebony Rose 11-1 (10-5) Led, hung left throughout, headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 7, 33 3/4l behind Senatus (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (6) gd in Nov.
