prominent, hit 5th, led 8th, headed after 9th, weakened next, behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 7th, mistake 9th, soon driven to lead, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway on inside 10th, weakened 2 out
led to 8th, weakened after 10th, behind when pulled up before 2 out, dismounted
in touch, headway approaching 9th, led approaching 2 out, soon hard ridden, hit and headed last, weakened flat
tracked leaders until ridden and weakened 10th
held up in touch, lost place approaching 6th, headway after 10th, soon chasing leaders, weakened 2 out
held up, headway approaching 10th, chased leaders and mistake 2 out, led last, hung left, driven and ran on
In another interesting affair, the vote goes to Brush A King but there are a number that you could give some kind of a chance too. To us, in the context of this race, the selection looks the safest option. He won twice during the summer and, despite being nine pounds higher than for the most recent of them, he ran well from his revised mark on his seasonal return and, with that under his belt, should go well. The only possible downside is that his only other run here so far was not too good. Astyanax is lightly raced over hurdles but was third to Bagan in a novice event, so it will be interesting to see how he goes, while Knightsbridge King ran well when stepped up to this trip last time, having been kept mainly to sellers before that. Putup Or Shutup looked promising a couple of years ago, but has that absence to overcome, although he can go well fresh. Maraud has a chance if getting back to his form of 12 months ago, although his last five runs have been modest, while Paul Nicholls' lightly-raced Azzemour should possibly be noted if there is money for him. With New Perk, who ran well here over fences last time, yet to win a race, and Squantum, an Irish chase winner who is returning from an absence, having question marks against them, we return once again to the selection, which is Brush A King.
Brush A King 9-1 Chased leader, led 3rd, headed 5th, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 13, 13l behind Omni Cosmo Touch at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs.
Astyanax (IRE) 12-1 In touch, ridden and one pace when not fluent 3 out, 3rd of 18, 26l behind Bagan at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (E) gs in Jan.
Knightsbridge King 20-1 Held up, headway approaching 9th, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 9, 15l behind Ice Crystal at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) sft in Jan.
Maraud 25-1 Always towards rear, tailed off from 3 out, 16th of 17, well behind Count Fosco at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gf.
Azzemour (FR) 33-1 Held up, headway 8th, ridden and every chance after 3 out, weakening when not fluent next, hit last, 4th of 9, 36l behind Gallery God at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (E) sft in Dec.
New Perk (IRE) 15-2 Close up, ridden 3 out, led last, headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Benefit at Fakenham 3m nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gf in Jan.
Hoh Nelson 14-1 Mid-division, headway 3rd, ridden and mistake 6th, one pace from 3 out, 6th of 19, 12l behind Sarasota at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) sft in Jan.
