tracked leaders, ridden and effort 3 out, challenged last, led flat, kept on
tracked clear leader, led after 4 out, ridden 2 out, headed flat, no extra
mid-division, headway under pressure 4 out, ridden and effort next, weakened 2 out
not fluent, held up in touch, pushed along and lost place 4th, behind when fell 6th
mid-division, pushed along and headway 4 out, effort 2 out, one paced under pressure
held up in rear, pushed and well behind halfway, stayed on strongly from 2 out, nearest finish
in touch, pushed along and out paced approaching 4 out
led and soon clear, ridden and headed after 4 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before next
Temple Dog won't find life easy here under his penalties, but last year's Cheltenham Champion Bumper seventh - a race that has worked out incredibly well - has scope for further improvement and heads the shortlist of possible winners of this race. Tribal Venture's second to Middlethorpe at Wetherby last time is solid, if unspectacular form (Now Then Sid has six lengths to find on that form), but he looks booked for a place. Celebration Town's four Flat wins came at seven furlongs. Intersky Sovereign represents the Intersky Falcon team but might just be worth opposing on his debut. Sikasso could well run into a place, while Transit finished further behind Middlethorpe on his sole run to date than Tribal Dispute has done. The others are going to have to improve on what we know. Overall then, it is hard to escape the Cheltenham Bumper form and Temple Dogs gets the vote to extend his winning run to three.
