held up, hit 3rd, ridden and headway 3 out, went 2nd flat, not quicken towards finish
in touch, led 10th to approaching 3 out, every chance when hit 2 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 7th, hit 2 out, ridden and every chance last, weakened flat
chased leader, led 7th to 9th, led again approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well
led to 7th, led again 9th to 10th, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 5th, no danger after
held up, headway after 10th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
We have a fantastic race to look forward to for Haydock's Grade 1 centrepiece of the day and our vote goes to Kicking King, with Ollie Magern and Royal Auclair possibly proving to be his biggest dangers. Sit back and listen to the roll call for this race. Last season's King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Kicking King. Multiple Grade 1-winning Irish chaser Beef Or Salmon. Top novice from last season and already a winner of the Charlie Hall Chase this season, Ollie Magern. Kingscliff, the Charlie Hall Chase runner-up to Ollie Magern, and the King George runner-up to Kicking King. Last season's Hennessy Gold Cup winner, Celestial Gold, a race in which he beat Ollie Magern by a length and a half, although he was receiving four pounds. However, he later finished seventh in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Add to this, this year's Gold Cup runner-up, Take The Stand, plus Royal Auclair, the Gold Cup fourth, Grand National runner-up and Hennessy Gold Cup third - and he's weighted to beat both Celestial Gold and Ollie Magern based on the form of that last race - and the Haydock specialist Keen Leader, then you can tell that we have a race to savour. In summary, once again, the selection is Kicking King.
Beef Or Salmon (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Held up and behind, mistake 9th, reminder after 10th, jumped right 13th, no chance from 16th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kicking King (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar, 15 ran.
Keen Leader (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracking leaders when fell at the 4th in race won by Ollie Magern (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct, 8 ran.
Kicking King (IRE) 3-10fav (11-12) Settled 3rd, improved from 7th, led 6 out, strongly pressed after 3 out, headed next, outpaced before last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 5, 3l behind War Of Attrition (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 6f lst chs gs in Oct.
Kingscliff (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) In touch, headway 4 out, mistake 2 out, ridden to chase winner between last 2, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Ollie Magern (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct.
Ollie Magern 11-4fav (11-5) Made all, ridden approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct beating Kingscliff (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Royal Auclair (FR) 12-1 (11-12) fell in race won by Jack High (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Apr, 19 ran.
Take The Stand (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, effort next, ridden and kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Ollie Magern (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct.
Celestial Gold (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Held up and behind, mistakes 1st and 5th, steady headway approaching 18th, ridden 2 out, soon no impression, 7th of 15, 24l behind Kicking King (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
