close up on inner, every chance when hit 2 out, weakened before last
held up mid-division, mistake and weakened 5th
chased leaders, until weakened after 3 out, tailed off
slightly hampered and well in rear after 2nd, kept on under pressure from 2 out, no danger
took keen hold, prominent, chased leaders from 2 out, kept on same pace last
in touch, effort to lead narrowly after 2 out, headed and one pace before last, stayed on again flat
in touch, behind from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
took keen hold, led to 2nd, stayed prominent, blundered 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before 2 out
held up in mid-division, good headway after 3 out, ridden to lead before last, soon headed, weakened flat
held up towards rear, smooth headway on inner after 3 out, chased leaders after next, led last, driven clear flat
held up in rear until brought down 2nd
led 2nd to next, stayed prominent, mistake 5th and soon lost place
behind, slightly hampered 2nd, headway under pressure after 3 out, never going pace to trouble leaders
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, mistake next
soon chased leaders, ridden along approaching 2 out, soon weakened
towards rear, effort on outside when mistake 3 out, weakening when mistake last
towards rear when brought down 2nd
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure flat
in touch, driven along after 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, made most from 3rd to 3 out, weakening when slightly hampered after next
in mid-division, behind from 5th
prominent, led 3 out, headed after 2 out, weakened quickly
Trouble At Bay is battle-hardened, a quality that will help him to land the spoils in the opening event on Gold Cup day, with Tusk, Moulin Riche, Tarque and Adopted Hero all expected to play a part up the hill. Trouble At Bay was beaten on his debut over timber, but since then Alan King's charge has reeled off five victories on the bounce, vindicating the trainer's belief that he is a natural hurdler. Significantly, two of those wins have come over today's course and distance, including the Steel Plate Trial Juvenile Novices' Hurdle on New Year's Day, so his ability to stay up the hill is not in question. Furthermore, he will be much more at home than when gaining his latest success in Kempton's Adonis Hurdle at the end of last month, as he won that day despite not being suited to the sharp, flat track. Trouble At Bay has beaten a few of his rivals here on the way, including Tamarinbleu, and sets the standard. Strictly on the form-book, French raider Moulin Riche has a great chance of beating the selection on a line through Val Du Don, not far behind Trouble At Bay in the Steel Plate, but further behind Francois Doumen's runner at Auteuil earlier. Moulin Riche was perhaps unlucky when hitting the running rail three out in the race won by Tusk at Sandown, as he was going very well at the time. Doumen knows what it takes to land this prize, having been successful four years ago with Snow Drop, and his runner should go well in first-time blinkers. Tusk will have his supporters as well, and it must be remembered that he was a tough horse for Mick Channon on the Flat, numbering Trouble At Bay among his victims when scoring at Bath in the summer. In many ways he is a similar sort to the selection and cannot be ruled out. Tarque was backed for the Triumph after opening his account in fine style on his first outing on these shores at Kempton in December, after which he was purchased from Francois Doumen, and should give Venetia Williams a good chance of at least having a placed runner. Adopted Hero is lightly raced and it would be no surprise if he were to go well, while the Irish, successful three times in the last 13 runnings, may have most to hope for from Hasanpour who is by all accounts well over a breathing problem. All in all, it promises to be yet another fast and furious renewal, and now that Alan King has broken his duck, courtesy of Fork Lightning on Tuesday, the vibes are good that Trouble At Bay can add to his tally.
