in touch, driven to chase leaders over 3f out, kept on same pace under pressure final 2f, no impression
slowly away, always towards rear
mid-division, headway 6f out, chased front pair over 4f out to over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f f out
tracked leader, challenged over 5f out, led briefly over 4f out, lost place over 2f out, one pace
held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, ridden to chase winner over 2f out, kept on, always held
tracked leaders, driven over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to chase front pair from over 1f out, no impression
tracked leaders, driven over 3f out, kept on same pace, no impression
tracked leaders, led going well over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, kept on well
towards rear, driven and stayed on into mid-division final 2f, never near leaders
took keen hold, in touch on inside, driven to chase leaders over 3f out, ridden kept on same pace in 4th from over 1f out, no impression
in touch, driven and outpaced over 4f out, never on terms, weakened final 2f
tracked leader, led over 5f out to over 4f out, driven and lost place over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, outpaced over 4f out, never near leaders
behind, ridden over 3f out, never near leaders
mid-division on outside, chased leaders over 4f out, ridden and kept on same pace final 2f, never on terms
led, headed over 5f out, soon lost place, weakened over 2f out
This looks a strong bumper so one of the newcomers will need to be useful to make a winning debut. However, Nicky Henderson’s Ligny is a half-brother to Lidar - who won a bumper, a hurdle and two chases - so he’s worth a market check. Blackberry Wine and Bullionaire should also have a future but we’ll concentrate on those with experience. A four-year-old beat older rivals in this last year and the younger generation outnumber five and six-year-olds this time. HAREFIELD didn’t do a lot wrong behind Air Navigator on his debut at Exeter and can go one better with normal progress ahead of the penalised pair Larry and Midnight Shadow. Jockey bookings suggest Ginge de Sophia is preferred to stablemate The Hollow Ginge while Chez Castel Mail is entitled to be thereabouts again.
Chez Castel Mail (FR) 6-5fav (11-4) Kept wide, took keen hold, tracked leaders, led briefly 8f out, led over 6f out, headed over 3f out, led over 2f out, clear 1f out, easily, won at Fontwell 1m 6f (6) sft in Feb beating Blue Bullet (11-4) by 13l, 7 ran.
Senatus (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Pulled hard, headway tracking leader 12f out, pushed along 3f out, ridden and lost 2nd over 2f out, chased leaders, weakened inside final 2f, 11th of 12, 20 1/4l behind Western Ryder (11-4) at Ascot 2m lst (1) gs in Dec.
The Last Day (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Mid-division, tracked leaders 4f out, challenged over 2f out, ridden and every chance final furlong, stayed on to dead heat final stride, won at Southwell 2m mdn (6) sft in Jan beating Aye Aye Charlie (11-4), 10 ran.
Midnight Chill 12-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division and keen, weakened over 4f out, 6th of 14, 22 1/2l behind Agamemmon (11-0) at Southwell 2m (6) gd in Nov.
Midnight Stroll Midnight Legend gelding out of Late For Class.
Silver Kayf 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened 2f out, 10th of 12, 20 1/4l behind Western Ryder (11-4) at Ascot 2m lst (1) gs in Dec.
Midnight Shadow 11-10fav (11-3) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led over 4f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on, no impression on winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Echo Express (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 1f (6) sft in Mar.
Blackberry Wine (FR) Naaqoos gelding out of Khadidja.
Blue Kangaroo (FR) Blue Bresil gelding out of Mascotte Du Maine.
Bullionaire (IRE) Gold Well gelding out of Dontcallerthat.
Deyrann de Carjac (FR) Balko gelding out of Queyrann.
Eau De Nile (IRE) Robin Des Champs gelding out of Rivervail.
Harefield (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders 3f out, every chance 2f out, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong, one pace, 2nd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Air Navigator (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f (6) sft in Feb.
Ligny (FR) Fuisse gelding out of Light Wave.
Mister Malarky 20-1 (10-8) Prominent, led over 6f out, headed over 5f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 16, 17l behind Haafapiece (10-8) at Kempton 2m mdn (5) gs in Feb.
Right Old Touch (IRE) Stowaway gelding out of No Easy Way.
Tekap (FR) Kapgarde gelding out of Textuelle.
Tekiblue de L'Orme (FR) Blue Bresil gelding out of Tekila De L'orme.
The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 5-2 (10-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd over 2f out, kept on and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 4, 5 3/4l behind Tikkanbar (11-4) at Hereford 2m (6) hvy in Feb.
Ginge de Sophia (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd inside final 2f, soon ridden and one pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 15l behind Lady Mix (10-7) at Newbury 2m (5) sft in Mar.
Pride Of Pemberley (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair over 1f out, lost 3rd inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 12 1/2l behind Mon Palois (11-3) at Wetherby 2m (6) sft in Feb.
Larry 6-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders on inside, not clear run from over 2f out until got through to challenge over 1f out, led inside final furlong, edged left, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn (6) gs in Feb beating Puppet Warrior (11-3) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
