Verdict
John Ferguson has made an astonishing start to his training career and Asaid made a big impression on his hurdling debut when beating subsequent easy winner One Lucky Lady at Folkestone. Fellow UK raider Countrywide Flame is progressing all the time and made the classy Hollow Tree pull out the stops in the Grade 1 Finale at Chepstow's Christmas fixture. His Excellency had One Cool Shabra and Burrenbridge Lodge just behind when landing a Grade 2 here on St Steven's Day but the latter pair were behind UT DE SIVOLA at Punchestown last month when the consistent Hisaabaat was runner-up. The winner is very highly regarded and given the vote, though there are form lines tying him in closely with Shadow Catcher and Sportsmaster who are both major threats in a fascinating contest.
Formwatch
Asaid 4-1 (10-7) In touch in mid-division, headway approaching 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, shaken up to lead last, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4yo hdl (4) gs in Jan beating One Lucky Lady (10-5) by 2l, 15 ran.
Burrenbridge Lodge (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Tracked leader at ordinary pace & niggled along when gallop quickened from 3 out, challenged from before next, gained narrow lead last, edged on to rail & stayed on well closing stages, won at Gowran Park 2m 4yo hdl sft in Jan beating One Cool Shabra (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Countrywide Flame 2-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, driven to challenge approaching 2 out, soon every chance, not fluent last, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Hollow Tree (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3yo hdl Grd 1 (1) hvy in Dec.
Crafty Roberto 40-1 (10-12) Settled in rear 1st, mistake and hampered 2nd, headway to handy 4th before 4 out, staying on when left 2nd 2 out, 3 lengths down and closing on idling leader last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Art History (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
His Excellency (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Settled towards rear, 5th 2 out, poised to challenge on inner approaching last, pushed out to lead narrowly run-in, kept on best despite swishing tail, won at Leopardstown 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec beating One Cool Shabra (11-1) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Hisaabaat (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway in 4th 2 out, disputed entering straight, ridden in 2nd last, no extra run-in and kept on same pace, 2nd of 25, 1 1/4l behind Darroun (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo mdn hdl in Jan.
One Cool Shabra (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Led, increased pace from before 3 out, strongly pressed from before next, narrowly headed last, struggling when badly hampered closing stages, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Burrenbridge Lodge (11-3) at Gowran Park 2m 4yo hdl sft in Jan.
Shadow Catcher 7-4fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway into 5th 3 out, 3rd travelling well next, improved to challenge before last, led after last, ridden and kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 3yo mdn hdl hvy in Dec beating Darroun (11-0) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Sportsmaster (IRE) 2-5fav (11-0) Led from 2nd at slow pace, attempted to assert from between last 2, pressed and joined briefly run-in, stayed on best and went on closing stages, won at Naas 2m 4yo mdn hdl in Jan beating Hisaabaat (11-0) by 1l, 6 ran.
Ut De Sivola (FR) 1-4fav (10-10) Tracked leaders racing keenly, 3rd halfway, headway to challenge and disputed entering straight, ridden approaching last where left in front, driven out run-in, won at Punchestown 2m hdl Grd 3 (1) in Jan beating Hisaabaat (10-10) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Gorgeous Sixty (FR) 5-4fav (10-7) Held up last of the 5 at ordinary pace, 4th from 3 out, challenged under pressure and almost on terms last, every chance and kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Burrenbridge Lodge (11-3) at Gowran Park 2m 4yo hdl sft in Jan.
In Bloom (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd at ordinary pace, dropped to rear after 3 out when gallop quickened, no extra when fell 2 out, in a race won by Burrenbridge Lodge (11-3) at Gowran Park 2m 4yo hdl sft in Jan, 5 ran.
