tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out, soon pulled up, tailed off
in touch, went 2nd before 4 out, led before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on
towards rear, headway before 3 out, chased winner from 2 out, ridden before last, no impression
led, headed before 2 out, lost 2nd 2 out, no extra last 100 yards
tracked leaders, reminders before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
King Uther finished runner-up in a tougher handicap at Newbury last time when catching third-placed BOOK OF GOLD close home. But the latter didn’t help his cause with a bad stumble at the last and Oliver Sherwood’s charge gets another chance in this. Three Faces West can race off a lower mark back over timber today having won three of five previous outings over hurdles. He could bounce back to form and is preferred to Antony, who also reverts to the smaller obstacles. Oh Land Abloom and Kris Spin ended last year with victories but both have struggled off higher marks subsequently.
Three Faces West (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led 10th, fell 13th, at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Kris Spin (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened before 2 out, 10th of 17, 14l behind Topofthegame (11-7) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Oh Land Abloom (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up in last pair, ridden on outside and struggling over 3f out, never on terms, 6th of 7, 22l behind General Ginger (11-4) at Kempton 2m 2f (4) pol in Mar.
King Uther 5-2 (10-4) Raced on inside, tracked leading pair, mistake 4 out, soon struggling to hold place, rallied went left and mistake 2 out, went left and hit last, 2nd towards finish, always held, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Talkischeap (11-0) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Book of Gold (IRE) 7-1 (10-1) Prominent, hit 5th, mistake next, lost place and hit 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, dist behind Carnspindle (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Antony (FR) 3-1fav (11-7) Often jumped left, behind, headway and in touch when went badly left 15th and lost place, behind when went left next and 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.