prominent, led 2nd, headed 5th, rallied next, weakened approaching 2nd last
led until 2nd, soon chasing leaders, jumped badly right 5th, soon lost place, tailed off
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, led 5th, slow 3out, driven and headed before 2 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, travelled well throughout, chased leaders after 3out, every chance after next, led last, strongly challenged, stayed on well
tracked leaders, led 2out, soon strongly challenged, headed last, rallied flat, kept on under pressure, just held
raced in rear, mistake 1st, headway 3out, soon under pressure, weakened next, tailed off
held up in touch, headway approaching 2out, soon every chance, weakened last
tracked leaders, slow 3rd, mistake 4th soon lost place, behind approaching 3out, tailed off
Alan King and Sheena West have both had recent success in this contest and can provide the one-two, with JUBAIL preferred to Denton Ryal. Our selection had reportedly been schooling well prior to his hurdling debut at Market Rasen, when a mistake two from home ended all chance of victory. In finishing third though he showed enough to suggest he'd be hard to beat next time, a feeling backed up by his progressive profile on the flat. Denton Ryal is rated around a stone inferior to Jubail on the level and may lack the basic class to beat that rival, but she did show at Plumpton that she's the scope to make a better hurdler and her chance isn't underestimated. Plan A makes more appeal than Il Portico on the basis of their flat achievements and the booking of AP McCoy although he'd perhaps want rain to fall.
Gulf Punch 25-1 (10-13) In touch in mid-division, lost place 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 14, 24l behind Architrave (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f juv hdl (2) gd in Sep.
Big Talk 80-1 (10-12) Chased leader, driven after 3 out, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 9, 14l behind Zakeeta (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs.
Il Portico 5-1 (9-1) Mid-division, progress to track leaders 7f out, ridden to chase leader over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra, 4th of 12, 6l behind Straversjoy (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Sep (flat).
Jubail (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, 3rd when not fluent 2 out, one pace last, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Architrave (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f juv hdl (2) gd in Sep.
Plan A (IRE) 3-1fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead and race stands side over 1f out, headed narrowly approaching 1f out, hard ridden inside final furlong, kept on gamely to regain lead towards finish, won at Pontefract 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) sft beating Palawi (9-7) by hd, 13 ran (flat).
Professeur Emery (FR) Officiel gelding out of Karmadeine.
Denton Ryal 7-2 (10-5) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no impression with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Kahfre (10-12) at Plumpton 2m juv hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Magic Spirit 13-2 (8-7) Slowly into stride, recovered to lead after 1f until 8f out, chased leader, led again approaching 4f out, hard ridden over 1f out, headed and unable to quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Nom De La Rosa (8-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo sell stks (6) pol in Mar (flat).
