held up, ridden after 4 out, never on terms
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, no impression
towards rear, effort 4 out to chase leaders next, ridden and weakened form next
towards rear, headway to track leaders approaching 3 out, soon ridden and onepace
led untill 4th, hit next, soon ridden and gradually weakened from 3 out
mid-division, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden next and onepace until weakened from last
tracked leaders, led after 4 out, ridden next, kept on gamely
prominent, led 4th untill 4 out, soon ridden and weakened from 3 out
towards rear, headway to track leaders 4 out, ridden and challenged winner from next, one pace approaching last
prominent untill lost place 4th, behind and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened from 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, ridden and lost touch 3rd, tailed off and pulled up before 5th
towards rear, headway to track leaders 4 out, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, soon beaten
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, weakened from next
Most eyes on the Order Of Merit here as the cunning Mr Nicholls tries to foil Lough Derg's title aspirations with the running of the possibly-well-handicapped Takeroc, along with stable mate Sporazene, however it is Pearl King who is taken to win again. The selection is a vastly improving gelding as he showed when beating a decent field at Aintree by seven lengths (Kachaturian back in 2nd, Heathcote 3rd, Serabad 4th). Whilst they have an advantage at the weights today due to Pearl King's whopping 16lb rise in the weights, he doesn't have as much to find compared to his rating over fences and he can find the desired improvement to win today. Ignotus is a player as he chases the hat-trick but this race looks tougher, whilst Penzance continues to frustrate. Lough Derg will love being reunited with Tom Scudamore, and assuming that he can see through the tears then he can run his usual game race, however the villain of the piece could be Takeroc. He is potentially nicely-weighted given the ability he has shown over fences and if he takes to these obstacles (ran over hurdles in France), and his stable will cop the Order Of Merit pot of gold if he prevents Lough Derg finishing in the first five. At a price Kalahari King could run well given his excellent fourth in the Supreme Novices', however the ground may not be quite quick enough for him so it is Pearl King who is taken to win again.
Lough Derg (FR) 18-1 (11-7) Chased leader, weakened from 4 out, 8th of 9, well behind Al Eile (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl Grd 1 (1) gd.
Penzance 5-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Lough Derg (11-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
Pearl King (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, hit 2 out, led after last, driven out, won at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd beating Khachaturian (10-11) by 7l, 21 ran.
French Saulaie (FR) 40-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway after 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to chase winner before last, kept on one pace flat, 3rd of 22, 3l behind Silver Jaro (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Bywell Beau (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Jumped right, with leader, led approaching 2nd, headed after 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 18th of 22, 28l behind Silver Jaro (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Kalahari King (FR) 40-1 (11-7) Held up behind, smooth headway approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on, 4th of 22, 12l behind Captain Cee Bee (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Border Castle 11-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 4 out, soon ridden, headway 3 out, led approaching last, ran on well, won at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar beating Heathcote (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Ellerslie Tom 9-4fav (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders until weakened from 3 out, 6th of 11, 15l behind Dev (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m nov chs (4) gd in Sept.
Takeroc (FR) 5-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, blundered and led 7th, ridden and headed after 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Tidal Bay (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gd.
Khachaturian (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Led to 4th, ridden to lead again 4 out, headed after last, one pace, 2nd of 21, 7l behind Pearl King (10-10) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd.
Ignotus 2-9fav (11-6) Tracked leader, led 2nd, clear last, readily, won at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) gd beating Pipers Legend (10-6) by 5l, 12 ran.
Sporazene (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) In rear, hit 4th, mistake 6th, never nearer, 11th of 21, 16l behind Auroras Encore (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs.
Chivalry 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 4th, soon behind, 12th of 13, well behind Five Dream (10-6) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) sft in Jan.
Serabad (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, hit 5th, kept on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 21, 16l behind Pearl King (10-10) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd.
Pilca (FR) 25-1 (10-3) Always towards rear, 20th of 22, 30l behind Ashkazar (10-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Wizard of Us 25-1 (10-10) Chased leader until before 5th, driven approaching 3 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Doctor David (11-6) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
Heathcote 25-1 (11-3) Held up, ridden 3 out, kept on, 3rd of 21, 15l behind Pearl King (10-10) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd.
