Reporter: Tony Keenan
A surprise winner of this Champion Bumper, but one that sums up the division as there seems to be little between several of the best horses in it.
has been kept busy, having his fifth start of the season here, but he has improved gradually over time and was not far behind the runner-up at Cheltenham when beaten just over five lengths. He didn’t travel as well as a few of his rivals but was able to hang in with them and was helped by getting a clear run on the outside in the straight.
may not have been in the same form as Cheltenham but otherwise had no excuses. He travelled smoothly into the straight but wasn’t quick enough to take a gap and then had to be switched left before finishing well into second.
went through the race as well as any, just as he had done at Cheltenham, and may have hit the front sooner than ideal. His last half furlong was a little weak though he remains an excellent prospect.
was on much different ground to when he made a winning debut at Gowran and shaped as well as any with a view to getting a stiffer test. He was outpaced a little from half a mile out but picked up when his rider asked him only to run into the back to rivals. That halted his run, but he kept on well and has lots of upside as one of the lightest raced in the field.
again raced keenly and has a bit to learn if he is to achieve his potential.
won a staying bumper on his previous start and found this trip too sharp. He got left behind as the pace lifted but rallied late and passed a few rivals in the straight.
failed to progress after a promising effort at Cheltenham.
has not built an impressive Naas win in January (the form was boosted at this meeting) but both his runs since were on decent ground, and he likely needs some ease.
failed to build on an easy win at Naas last time and the runner-up from that race was also well-beaten at this meeting.
made the running but is not up to this level.
