held up in 4th, went 2nd travelling strongly 3 out, led after 2 out, ridden clear from last, stayed on well
led until mistake 1st, chased leader, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened after 2 out, no chance when faltered soon after last and unseated rider
held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 4th, mistake 7th, headway approaching 2 out, chasing winner and 3 lengths down, ridden when mistake last, no impression after
raced keenly, held up in 3rd until 7th, still well there 2 out, weakening when jumped left last
held up in rear, jumped slowly 5th, pushed along for 7th, left behind well before 2 out
led 1st, not fluent 3rd, hit 6th, headed after 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, not fluent 3 out, headway and in touch before 2 out, weakened under pressure after 2 out, mistake last
It's hard to see past BENSALEM, who has solid claims, here so we won't as Alan King's charge should prove too good for the likes of Our Bomber Harris and King's Forest. The pick missed the Cheltenham Festival after scoping badly when fancied to go well by connections and reappears in a weakish looking contest. His form before that was impressive and last time out only found one of the season's top improvers in Diamond Harry just too good in a better race, in testing conditions. That represents his only defeat in four starts and the yard are keen on this six-year-old. Despite the overall weak nature of a contest for this class this represents a step up for Our Bomber Harris who found a 135 rated rival a little too classy last time out. That form puts him in the mix but still well behind the selection. King's Forest took an ordinary looking novice hurdle at Kempton the last time we saw him and while he is capable of even better he will have to put in a marked improvement to score as long as the selection, Bensalem, runs close to form.
Bensalem (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Raced wide, held up, headway approaching 2 out, led approaching last, soon ridden, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Diamond Harry (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
King's Forest (IRE) 6-4 (11-4) Made all, hit 5th, well in command when not fluent last 2, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating China Gold (11-1) by 16l, 6 ran.
Our Bomber Harris 9-4 (11-9) Keen early, held up behind, headway after 8th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Giles Cross (11-9) at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Al Co (FR) (10-7) 98th of 11, 21l behind Mercelino (10-12) at Pau(FR) 2m 1f hdl in Jan.
Prince of Gdansk (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching last, 6th of 16, 29l behind Sir Tantallus Hawk (11-3) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Quentin Collonges (FR) 10-3 (11-2) Chased leader, led after 7th, headed flat, driven and no extra near line, 2nd of 12, shd behind Phoudamour (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Theophrastus (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, soon lost place, tailed off, 12th of 17, well behind According To Dick (11-8) at Newbury 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
The Black Baron (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Mid-division and keen, blundered 2nd, driven and one paced from 2 out, 4th of 8, 10l behind Trafalgar Road (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
