raced keenly, held up in touch, ridden to chase leading pair after 2 out, soon outpaced, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, headway to challenge when jumped right 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, lost 2nd flat
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place approaching 2 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
in rear, outpaced 2 out, driven and kept on approaching last, never nearer
held up, outpaced when not fluent 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
tracked leader, headway to lead when bumped 2 out, 5 lengths clear last, driven and stayed on well flat
led, reminders after 5th, headed 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened between last 2
CAUSEWAY KING's form has been franked and he is preferred to Hallstatt and newcomer Ciceron. A recruit from the Mark Johnston yard, the selection made a pleasing start to his new career over hurdles when winning comfortably at Warwick. The second, Screaming Brave, has won well since to give the form a solid look and he can carry his penalty to victory. Ciceron is a recruit from France and this son of Pivotal cannot be overlooked, especially if the market speaks in his favour. He should stay the trip but there may be a slight doubt given his best flat form came over trips around a mile. Hallstatt has run two fair races at Stratford and Newton Abbot and he should be competitive again, although this will be the slowest ground that he has faced to date. Mr Prolific made his hurdling debut in a hot Chepstow race and must be considered a player, whilst any market support for Rio Gael would look interesting. The well-bred Westlin' Winds looks the sort to make an impact in this sphere, as does Singapore Reef who represents a stable in good form and he is related to plenty of winners over in France. An interesting race then, in which it is Causeway King who is preferred.
Causeway King (USA) 11-2 (10-12) Raced keenly in mid-division, steady headway 3 out, led narrowly when hit next and last, ridden and held on flat, won at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd beating Screaming Brave (10-12) by 1l, 10 ran.
Ciceron (IRE) (8-13) won at Compiegne(FR) 1m 1f stk gs in Jun beating Tucumano (9-6) by 3l, 10 ran (flat).
Mr Prolific 5-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, mistake and reminders 4th, headway to chase leaders 4 out, mistake and weakened next, 8th of 12, 40l behind Olofi (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Singapore Reef (FR) Sagacity gelding out of Mutual Consent.
Some Time Good (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Keen, in touch, ridden and weakened soon after 3f out, 6th of 7, well behind Mohanad (10-12) at Kempton 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Westlin' Winds (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 6, 7l behind Worth A King's (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Sep (flat).
Mrs Slocombe (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Raced keenly, chased leaders to 6th, 6th of 13, 38l behind Dark Oasis (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Hallstatt (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, in 3rd and held when mistake 2 out, 4th of 8, 16l behind Marsool (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Rio Gael (IRE) 40-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 10, 21l behind Kinigi (7-9) at Southwell 7f 2yo clm stks (6) fbs in Nov '08 (flat).
