held up in rear, took keen hold, outpaced after 4 out, ran on and went 4th flat, unable to get on terms
held up, blundered 5th, outpaced after 4 out, well beaten 3 out, ran on flat
made virtually all, jumped right 2 out, edged left flat, driven out
chased leaders, slightly outpaced after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, 3rd before last, unable to challenge
towards rear, outpaced after 4 out, kept on flat, never dangerous
held up, mistake 1st, soon in touch, mistake 4th, close 3rd when mistake 3 out, 4th and weakening last
tracked winner, led briefly 3rd, stayed pressing, hampered 2 out, hung left flat, held final 100 yards, switched right towards finish, kept on
Spirit Of Kayf won two of his three starts over hurdles and fell in the other back in 2016 but didn't run again until last month when finishing a long way last of five at Haydock, albeit in a better race than this. He may need another run but CORNBOROUGH arrives in top form and will be very difficult to beat. He's been superbly placed by Mark Walford to win four times on the Flat and a similar number over hurdles, including a comfortable victory at this level at Wetherby in November. He won on soft ground at Chester in September so the going shouldn't be a problem. Deepsand hasn't run since May 2017 but won a handicap hurdle at Haydock that year and is back on the same mark. Crixus's Escape won a maiden and a novices' hurdle at Hexham and his two recent runs in handicaps have been over much further so he is one to keep an eye on under Brian Hughes.
Spirit Of Kayf 33-1 (10-12) Jumped left at times, always last, lost touch before 3 out, last of 5, dist behind Ballymoy (11-7) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Cornborough 2-1fav (11-1) Went left 1st, held up in touch, good headway chasing leaders and led approaching 3 out, clear when hit last, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Golden Jeffrey (10-13) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Apache Jack (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, disputed briefly approaching 5 out, ridden and no extra next, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Crixus's Escape (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up, ridden 3 out, some headway next, never a factor, 4th of 7, 21 1/4l behind Knock House (11-4) at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Deepsand (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up in 5th, pushed along after 3 out, went 4th before next, staying on same pace when left 3rd last, 3rd of 6, 6 3/4l behind Caius Marcius (11-9) at Perth 2m hcp (3) gd in May.
Beau Et Sublime (FR) 25-1 (10-0) Keen early, held up on outside, not fluent 2nd, closed after 6th, 4th and beaten from 2 out, no extra flat, 5th of 7, 11 1/4l behind Le Patriote (11-5) at Ayr 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Bold Emperor (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, 6th on outer halfway, ridden and no impression 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 6 1/2l behind Stella D'oro (9-5) at Tipperary 1m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Aug.
