tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 2f out, kept on, always held
tracked leader, led 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on well
held up towards rear and keen, outpaced over 3f out
held up in rear, ridden and outpaced 5f out, went poor 4th over 2f out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, pushed along halfway, soon struggling, tailed off over 3f out
led, headed 5f out, soon ridden, weakened over 4f out
A bumper that should not take too much winning can go to ESPORAO at the main expense of Corky Dancer. The Gordon Elliott-trained pick has made three promising runs in this sphere across in Ireland, going particularly well without winning on a sound or fast surface in two runs last month. With that experience both positive and arguably as good as anything on offer here we will take him to make the most of the weight he receives from Corky Dancer and win. The latter landed a Kelso bumper on debut last year and has gone reasonably well in defeat in two runs this time, though the penalty he carries is proving too much. Jabus is related to an Irish point winner and the son of Salsita, who won both on the Flat and in a Listed hurdle in France, so support for him would be interesting. Inishargie is another related to National Hunt success, but then there are good points about the pedigree of all the others and a market check is very much advised. Esporao is the one for us. Jonathan Doidge.
Corky Dancer 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 11, 10l behind Noble Scholar (11-10) at Hexham 2m NH flat (6) gs in Jun.
Inishargie (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Ww, steady prog from 1/2 way, cl up 2out, eff last, rallied & just failed, 2nd of 10, nk behind Believin' Miracles (12-0) at Necarne 3m ire ptp gd in May.
Esporao (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) Mid-division, stumbled and lost place over 4f out, progress into 7th entering straight, kept on same pace under pressure from over 2f out, 4th of 17, 9l behind Greenbelt Star (11-2) at Roscommon 2m N H flat gf in Jun.
Jabus (IRE) Bob Back gelding out of Salsita.
Blue Shirt Lily Val Royal mare out of Lily Dale.
Fleur De Vallee Rossini mare out of Val De Fleurie.
Hey There Tiger (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Towards rear, soon pushed along, weakened over 4f out, 10th of 15, well behind Aikman (10-9) at Perth 2m NH flat (6) gf in May.
