chased winner, not fluent 7th, ridden and lost 2nd approaching 3 out, plugged on under pressure to regain 2nd run-in, no chance with easy winner
made all, unchallenged, heavily eased close home
never fluent, tracked leaders, hit 6th and 10th, soon weakened
held up, hit 8th, soon lost touch
held up, headway from 7th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, no chance from next, lost 2nd run-in
With quite a few defecting, the scene looks set for Royal Shakespeare to oblige, with Woodhouse and Lord Henry the ones to give him most to do. Royal Shakespeare was rated 154 at best over hurdles, gaining his biggest success in a Grade 2 affair at Aintree three years ago, but in the main always seemed to find one or two of the big guns too good for him. However, his consistency contributed to him being awarded last season's Order of Merit, and so he was always likely to make a nice chaser. It has not taken him long to come good either, the eight-year-old hacking up at Kempton in January after some promising efforts in defeat. The ground was a bit softer than ideal at Kempton, but he still prevailed, and has conditions much more to his liking here. Richard Johnson steered him to victory on that last racecourse appearance, but he rides Lord Henry for the Hobbs stable today, so Robert Thornton, who has ridden him before, is back in the saddle. A clear round should be enough for him to see off the challenge of Woodhouse, whose gutsy success on heavy ground at Gowran Park suggests that he may be tapped for toe here. Lord Henry was beaten out of sight in the County Hurdle, but had won over fences at Hereford the time before. However, he has a good 25lb to find with the selection based on their hurdles form, while the other two contestants appear to be up against it. All in all, a clear round should see Royal Shakespeare home.
Royal Shakespeare (FR) 6-4jt-fav (11-2) Held up in 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, closed to lead soon after 3 out, in command when mistake 2 out, driven clear, won at Kempton 2m nov chs (2) gs in Jan beating Trouble At Bay (11-7) by 10l, 6 ran.
Lord Henry (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 2 out, 21st of 28, 23l behind Pedrobob (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs.
Woodhouse (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Settled 3rd, 2nd from 5th, left in lead 4 out, ridden and strongly pressed from next, jumped badly left last, stayed on well, won at Gowran Park 2m beg chs hvy beating Outlaw Princess (11-7) by 2l, 17 ran.
Monzon (FR) 100-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, hit 7th, ridden after 12th, one pace from 4 out, 3rd of 5, 17l behind Bible Lord (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy.
Smoke Trail (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Tracked winner from 4th, every chance 4 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Rowdy Yeats (10-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
