prominent, led approaching 4th, stayed on well under pressure from last
towards rear, headway 3 out, soon driven and one pace
led, headed approaching 4th, driven and one pace from 3 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, well behind when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway 3 out, kept on one pace from last
chased leaders, every chance approaching last when not fluent, no extra running
chased leaders, ridden and weakened quickly 3 out
prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, soon ridden and one pace
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, driven and no impression from next
mid-division, reminders when lost place 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
always behind, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
Kudu Country did his job very nicely at Haydock, but he is not guaranteed to follow up under a penalty and preference is for STORMY WEATHER, while Worth A King's is an interesting newcomer. Kudu Country was scoring on heavy ground in what was a decent yardstick for a race like this, and while he was in control of the situation from the last and is open to improvement, he will need to do so to follow-up. Worth A King's carries a higher BHA flat rating than most of these and comes from the in-form Donald McCain yard for this, his debut over hurdles. He looks likely to go very well, though this trip is plenty short enough for him, while he has to prove he acts on softer ground. Veronicas Boy won't have a problem with conditions and is a respectable performer over timber without being anything special. He is likely to find one or two too good. Debutant Night Knight looks in need of better ground, while King's Counsel acts with cut but just looks a little one-paced. Orsippus goes on the ground and looks capable of running a big race with the yard going well, but we will just side with Stormy Weather. Howard Johnson's gelding relishes some cut, and his narrow defeat to Kind Heart at Aintree in October reads well in the context of this race, so in receipt of 7lbs from Kudu Country he can take advantage.
Kudu Country (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led after 3rd, blundered 4 out, clear 3 out, ridden and rider dropped whip flat, held on well, won at Haydock 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Nov beating Riptide (11-4) by 5l, 6 ran.
Cornish Castle (USA) 14-1 (10-7) Behind, headway approaching 3 out, outpaced when blundered next, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 20l behind Melange (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (5) sft in Nov.
King's Counsel (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led after 4th, hit 3 out, soon headed and outpaced, left 2nd next, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 13l behind Sergeant Pink (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Night Knight (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Transformer (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct (flat).
Orsippus (USA) 18-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, went 2nd 4 out, led approaching 2 out, headed after last, one pace, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Carlito Brigante (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Royal Premium 66-1 (10-12) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Monsieur Jourdain (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Stormy Weather (FR) 1-2fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd when hit 4 out, 11/2 lengths down and driven when not fluent last, ridden and kept on flat, just held, 2nd of 9, hd behind Kind Heart (10-7) at Aintree 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Toledo Gold (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Chased winner, mistake 5th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 11, 39l behind Ultimate (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Venture Capitalist 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, jumped right and not fluent 4th, struggling when jumped right next, 9th of 10, well behind Monsieur Jourdain (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Veronicas Boy 10-1 (10-12) Close up, led 4 out, headed next, one pace from last, 2nd of 13, 14l behind Bocamix (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Worth A King's 11-8fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, soon led, and ridden, headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Dayia (9-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct (flat).
Aven Mac (IRE) 18-1 (9-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened approaching last, 7th of 12, 26l behind Melange (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Haulage Lady (IRE) 25-1 (8-2) Behind, rapid headway halfway, soon mid-division, weakened 3f out, last of 13, well behind Speed Dating (9-1) at Carlisle 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jul (flat).
Dark Oasis 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders,ridden after 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on from last, no impression, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Screaming Brave (10-12) at Leicester 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
