raced enthusiastically, made all, drew clear after 2 out, stayed on well
held up in 4th, mistake 12th, closed 4 out, bumped 3 out, went close 2nd when fell 2 out
pressed winner until hit 3rd, remained prominent, mistake 8th, not fluent 11th or 14th, disputing close 3rd when fell 2 out
held up in rear, not always fluent, mistake 8th, closed when blundered 3 out, left 3rd and slightly hampered 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, not fluent 4th or 5th, closed 3 out, well in touch when mistake nowhere to go and brought down 2 out
chased winner 3rd until ridden after 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, soon beaten
In this Novice Chase there's very little to choose between KING TROY and Just Amazing but with the former just getting better of the latter on identical terms on their last meeting we'll take Alan Kings charge to complete a hat-trick while Diablo isn't completely weighted out of things. The pick followed up that success with another score in a similar race and is actually chasing a Novice Chase four timer with only a good run in defeat in listed company blotting the copybook so while in this mood we have to give him the marginal preference. Just Amazing was only a neck down from the pick on that last encounter, which was following a very easy success over next time out winner Tot Of The Knar. He's not run since but goes well after this sort of absence. Diablo has less than 10lbs to find by the way this race is framed and made a very pleasing debut over fences last time but while King Troy's main rival doesn't have to find much to reverse the form of there last battle the pick maintained his performance next time and should get the upper hand again.
Just Amazing (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Appeared to hang right, led, strongly pressed and driven along from 2 out, jumped well and kept on well from last, worn down near finish, 2nd of 5, nk behind King Troy (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f noc chs (3) gf in Aug.
King Troy (IRE) 4-6fav (11-9) Tracked leader, hit 2nd, hit 3rd, led 9th, blundered and headed 3 out, challenged next, not fluent last, soon led, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f noc chs (2) gd in Sep beating Khachaturian (11-1) by 1l, 5 ran.
Clifton Debut 7-1 (11-5) Led, headed 6th, led again from 8th, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon outpaced, rallied after last, stayed on well close home, 2nd of 9, hd behind Golden Kite (11-2) at Clonmel 3m nov stks gd in Sep.
Cruchain (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, pecked 11th, headway when dived at 4 out, went second approaching 2 out, led and dived at last, doing little flat, driven out, won at Worcester 2m 4f beg chase (4) sft in Jun beating No Panic (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Kennel Hill (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, moderate 4th 4 out, soon ridden, remote 3rd from next, no extra, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Greenfield Noel (12-0) at Listowel 3m hts chs hvy in May.
Diablo (IRE) 5-4fav (11-2) With leader, led 3rd, headed approaching 8th, chased leader, ridden approaching last, kept on, always held, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Mhilu (11-8) at Perth 2m 4f noc chs (3) gf in Sep.
Any Currency (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, headed 7th, lost place last, kept on same pace flat, no impression, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Shanballa (11-0) at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chs (4) sft in Aug.
