mid-division, lost place approaching 6th, soon behind
pulled hard, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
led 1st to 4th, hit 6th, soon weakened behind when pulled up beofre 7th
mid-division, mistake 5th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
in touch until weakened approaching 6th
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, led 4 out, clear when mistake 2 out, eased flat
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 6th
mid-division until weakened mistake 7th
led to 1st, led again 4th, mistake and headed 4 out, kept on, no chance with winner
held up and keen, headway approaching 8th, 4th and 7 lengths down when fell 3 oout
not jumped well, always behind, refused and unseated rider 6th
always behind
With not too many that can be fancied, Kirkham Abbey appears to have been found a suitable opportunity to open his account, with Kentucky King, Incursion and Treaty Stone put up as possible threats. A winner on the Flat last September, Kirkham Abbey has finished second a couple of times over hurdles, most recently at Stratford in July, and since then has had a spin on the Flat at Haydock to keep him in trim. He looks the best of a moderate bunch here, with perhaps Kentucky King the main danger. The latter was runner-up over two and three-quarter miles at Newton Abbot last time, but will be more comfortable back at this trip and should reach the frame at least. Incursion was a soft-ground winner on the Flat, and may find conditions too fast on his return to hurdling, while Treaty Stone is best watched on his debut over timber, having had three outings in bumper company. The rest are hard to fancy at all, and Kirkham Abbey has more claims than most.
Air Guitar (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Chased leaders, keen hold, 6th approaching straight, no impression and kept on same pace under pressure from 2f out, 6th of 20, 3l behind Mantell (10-13) at Clonmel 2m nhf frm in Jun.
It's Ej 14-1 (11-12) Held up, pushed along and behind from 7th, 8th of 9, well behind Brooklyn Brownie (11-5) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gd in May.
Kentucky King (USA) 25-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 3 out, headed briefly approaching 2 out, rallied and led until headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Maharaat (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (D) gf in Jul.
Kirkham Abbey 12-1 (11-7) In touch, headway 6th, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Native Chancer (10-8) at Stratford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in Jul.
Le Cavalier (USA) 100-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, weakened quickly 4th and pulled up at the 5th in race won by Silence Reigns (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f clm hdl (F) gf, 20 ran.
Saxon Mist 12-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden 7th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 10, 30l behind Explosive Fox (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov hdl (E) gf in Jul.
Treaty Stone 25-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 18, 22l behind Regents Walk (11-0) at Newbury 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gd in Dec.
Incursion 6-1 (10-11) In touch, hampered 1st, ridden approaching 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Beauchamp Prince (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (E) hvy in Nov, 13 ran.
