held up in rear, mistake 1st, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, took keen hold, hit 3rd, weakened 4 out
held up, jumped slowly 4th, mistake next, pushed along 6th, behind when pulled up 8th
held up in rear, not jumped fluent throughout, behind when pulled up 8th
held up, headway 4th, mistake 8th, soon chasing leaders, stayed on same pace from 3 out
prominent, jumped left 5th, 8 lengths down in 3rd when fell 9th
held up mid-division, weakened 4 out
made all, jumped well, clear 4 out, easily
held up, keen hold, not fluent 2nd, hit 7th, weakened before 3 out
This is quite competitive and the leading lights look to be Kingkohler, King Diamond and Earlsfield Raider and the vote is given to the last mentioned. The market could provide some help for punters here as our selection has been off the racecourse for nearly two years, but if he is fit enough to do himself justice then there is no doubt that he has the ability to get his head in front. Kingkohler is an obvious alternative as he has the ability to win at this level and he was a decent second behind Manners at Huntingdon last time. King Diamond is another that run well in defeat last time when second behind Sunley Shines on his chasing debut. However, he showed a tendency to jump left that day and although he may benefit from experience,he is narrowly passed over. Dance World is a course and distance winner and could go well at a price, but Earlsfield Raider could prove to be the answer to a tricky contest.
Dance World 28-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, weakened 8th, 4th of 7, 38l behind Good Spirit (10-11) at Stratford 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Feb.
Domenico (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Took keen hold, tracking leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 8, 20l behind Zizou (10-8) at Plumpton 2m hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Apr.
King Diamond (FR) 5-1 (11-0) In touch, jumped left 1st, led 8th, ridden 3 out, jumped left and hit next, jumped left and mistake last, headed flat, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Sunley Shines (10-8) at Ludlow 2m nov chs (3) gf in Apr.
Kingkohler (IRE) 11-10fav (11-0) Held up in touch, took keen hold, hampered 1st, headway to lead 3 out, ridden and headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Manners (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m beg chs (3) gf.
Lawaaheb (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Chased winner to 6th, mistake next, stayed handy, no chance from 3 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Classi Maureen (10-3) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Sept.
Etoile Russe (IRE) 11-2 (10-4) Chased leaders, lost place after 3 out, soon tailed off, virtually pulled up flat, last of 7, well behind Torkinking (11-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Earlsfield Raider 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, went 2nd and mistake 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 7l behind Ballycassidy (11-5) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gf in Jun '05.
Supercilious (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) In touch, weakened after 4 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Astarador (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Oct, 11 ran.
