waited with in rear, closed up and pushed along straight, one pace in 3rd after slight mistake 2 out
led, slight mistake 4th, joined briefly after next, pushed along into straight, narrowly headed before 2 out, slight mistake last and one pace after
raced in 4th, slight mistake 5th, pushed along into straight, no impression approaching 2 out, soon no extra
a little keen, slight mistake 1st, raced in 2nd, on terms briefly after 5th, slight mistake 7th, gained narrow lead before 2 out where slight mistake, jumped slightly right last and stayed on best
slight mistake 1st, raced in 3rd, reminder after 7th, pushed along briefly after next, not fluent 4 out, pushed along again after 3 out, no impression approaching next, soon no extra
Alpha Des Obeaux was trained by Mouse Morris when comfortably holding off A Toi Phil in this last year. The ground was very testing that day and both may find conditions against them this time, as they did when making their seasonal returns on good going last month. Doctor Phoenix is the third of the Gordon Elliott entries and he's another who has rarely run on anything but soft or heavy ground. However, he made very good strides last season so has to be respected. Rashaan, who is unbeaten in two runs here, will be better suited by today's conditions than most and has a Grade 3 victory to his credit though he's up against much stiffer opposition. KEMBOY is only six and is potentially a top-notcher. He fell at the first in the Irish National here but then won a Grade 3 very impressively and ended the campaign carrying a big weight to victory in a Grade A handicap at Punchestown. The race conditions suit him here and he can advertise his credentials for the King George.
A Toi Phil (FR) 15-8fav (11-8) Mid-division on outer, pushed along in 5th approaching 3 out, soon no impression, no extra from 2 out, 6th of 7, 29l behind Woodland Opera (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) gd in Oct.
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, 9th after 9th, progress before 3 out, no impression on leaders after 2 out, slightly hampered after last, kept on well, never nearer, 5th of 16, 9 3/4l behind Spider Web (9-11) at Limerick 3m hcp gd in Oct.
Doctor Phoenix (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division, slight mistake 5 out, closer in 5th 3 out, ridden in 7th entering straight, went moderate 5th at last, no extra, 5th of 9, 14 1/2l behind Un De Sceaux (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Kemboy (FR) 11-4fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, 4th from 4th, closed and switched left before 3 out where slight mistake, 2nd approaching straight, on terms 2 out, soon led, stayed on well to assert from last, won at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp sft in Apr beating A Rated (10-12) by 5l, 18 ran.
Rashaan (IRE) 5-6fav (11-8) Raced mainly in 3rd, pushed along in pursuit of leading pair from 4 out, closed on leaders before 2 out and ridden after last, challenged over 1f out and kept on well close home, just denied, 2nd of 4, nk behind Woods Well (11-12) at Galway 2m 7f Yielding in Oct.
