mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, pressed winner 2 out, ridden and every chance flat, just held
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, led and hit 2 out, soon headed, weakened flat
led until 2nd, behind from 5th, tailed off
lost touch 4th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, led 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened
mid-division until weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, close up 3 out, effort 2 out, not quicken
tracked leaders, led soon after 2 out, hard pressed, all out
mid-division, headway 3rd, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, slightly hampered 2 out, 4th and held, went left last
whipped round start, chased leader, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on again from 2 out
mid-division until weakened after 5th, behind and pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear
Planet Of Sound and Sovereign King could be the two to concentrate on despite their penalties, and the vote goes to Sovereign King whose win has been franked since. A 66/1 winner on debut, Alan King's cheap purchase looks sure to do well this season over hurdles. He hadn't shown much in two bumper runs last season but jumping will be his game and he can go on from here to better things, although how high he will climb the ladder is open to debate. Planet Of Sound has had his win franked by the runner-up winning since, and with an Alan King inmate in third that day, it will be intriguing to see how they go in the betting against each other. Mister Gloss is a winning point-to-pointer who is likely to need a step up in trip before we see him winning, whilst King Caine represents a powerful stable. He makes his hurdling debut but will need to be decent to beat the top two. At a price Bud White could go well, although he unseated at the first on debut, and so for the winner we will return to Sovereign King.
Planet of Sound 8-1 (11-0) In touch, close up 3 out, led approaching last, jumped left and ran on, won at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov beating The Package (11-0) by 4l, 15 ran.
Sovereign King 66-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, headway between last 2, led approaching last, driven clear flat, won at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Oh Crick (10-12) by 4l, 10 ran.
Award Winning (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 13, 35l behind Garrulous (11-0) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Bud White 33-1 (10-12) Behind when jumped left and unseated rider in race won by Merchent Paddy (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
Charming Oscar (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Led, hit 5th, headed next, lost place approaching 7th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Razor Royale (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (2) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Garleton (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway 6th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Nakai (11-0) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct, 16 ran.
Kikos (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway after 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 9, well behind Marsam (10-12) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
King Caine (IRE) 6-5fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway 5f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 14, 10l behind Kavatcha (10-8) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn nhf (5) sft in Jan.
Mister Gloss (IRE) 28-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden and some progress when not fluent 4 out, soon held, 6th of 16, 27l behind Carruthers (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Oscar Bay (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Soon well behind, 3rd of 4, 27l behind Berings Express (10-12) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (3) gf in Nov.
Itstooearly 11-1 (10-10) In touch, ridden after 3 out, one pace, 4th of 12, 11l behind Just Beware (10-3) at Lingfield 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Posh Emily 22-1 (10-2) Held up behind, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace, 5th of 10, 16l behind Just Amazing (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
