held up, ridden, outpaced over 5f out, stayed on final 3f
always behind, struggling after 5f, tailed off 9f out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, ridden over 6f out, headway over 3f out, led final furlong, stayed on
always behind, ridden after 5f, tailed off 7f out, soon pulled up
held up behind, ridden 5f out, headway over 3f out, stayed on well final furlong
raced keen, led, soon clear until 7f out, ridden, headed over 4f out, soon weakened
chased clear leader, ridden over 3f out, one pace final furlong
held up, headway to chase leaders 7f out, led over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, headed final furlong, no extra
held up, ridden, weakened over 4f out
held up in touch, ridden, weakened over 3f out
An interesting bumper where we will take Modicum to be too good for Cheer Us On, Cavers Glen, Starting Point and Gold Thread. As usual the market will provide us with some clues as to where the confidence lies here, but Modicum has improved for two bumper outings, when placed both here and at Cheltenham and can put that experience to good use here. The Nicky Richards-trained gelding handles the cut well, and a reproduction or improvement on that latest effort should be good enough. Gold Thread is from a yard that is still not firing as it would like and as a debutante he is passed over on this occasion. Cheer Us On stayed on well in a 1m 5f bumper at Doncaster in November and has been given plenty of time to make further improvement at home. Market confidence in him, considering his yard, would be significant. Cavers Glen ran into a place at Carlisle last time but will need to find more to do the same again here, while Starting Point should enjoy conditions and is another improver who could go very well. But Modicum has perhaps shown the most ability thus far and is taken to score.
Askham Lad (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Held up, weakened over 4f out, last of 6, 19l behind Gunner Jack (11-4) at Ayr 2m nhf (6) sft.
Gold Thread (IRE) Oscar gelding out of a once-raced mare.
Needwood Danzig Connection gelding, half-brother to Flat winner Needwood Mystic.
Top Cloud (IRE) Cloudings gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
Cheer Us On 4-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Burnt Oak (10-12) at Doncaster 1m 5f nhf (H) gd in Nov.
Modicum (USA) 5-1 (10-5) Held up, headway 5f out, pushed along over 1f out, stayed on, 3rd of 16, 8l behind Burnt Oak (11-2) at Cheltenham 1m 4f nhf lst (1) gs in Jan.
Gunadoir (IRE) Needle Gun filly out of Rent Day, half sister to winning chaser Terrible Tenant.
Neutron (FR) 6-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, no impression after, 5th of 6, 17l behind Gunner Jack (11-4) at Ayr 2m nhf (6) sft.
