prominent, led 2nd, outpaced and headed over 3 out, kept on and no impression from next
chased leaders, ridden to challenge 3 out, weakened next
led, headed 2nd, chased leader, led over 3 out, under pressure and hit 2 out, soon hard ridden, all out
in rear, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, ridden to challenge when hit 2 out, hard ridden and every chance flat, no extra close home
close up and pulled hard, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
pulled hard in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, weakened from 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Fontainebleu winner Aristoxene lost no caste in defeat on his British debut behind King Revo at Wetherby and, with the softening ground likely to suit Guillaume Macaire's colt, he has to be respected but he faces stiff opposition in the shape of Emanic and Tusk, with the vote going to the last mentioned. Alan King's Emanic created a favourable impression when scoring at Warwick on his debut but was subsequently disappointing when only third behind the admittedly useful Lough Derg at the same venue. Sue Smith's consistent Flake split the pair on that occasion and has to be respected today, as does Oliver Sherwood's Mark Of Zorro, who is probably better than he has shown so far. Tusk, who had some useful form on the level for Mick Channon, stepped up on his debut effort over hurdles when getting up close home to land a Kempton novices' hurdles two weeks ago. With further improvement to come from this strapping gelding, who could prove to be a real Triumph contender, he gets the vote.
