held up in touch, chased leaders from 12th, disputed lead 3 out, soon led, clear after next, eased flat,
disputed lead, led 3rd, strongly challenged from 16th, headed 3 out, weakened under pressure soon after
in rear, driven after 9th, lost touch from next, pulled up before 13th
close up, driven and outpaced from 16th, kept on under pressure flat
disputed lead to 3rd, slightly outpaced aftere 16th, disputed lead 3 out, soon headed, no chance with winner
not jumped well in rear, well behind from 12th, tailed off
Iris Royal was a smart hurdler, who has proved effective from two-and-a-half to three miles, and on a course where his trainer has a good record, is taken to make a winning debut over fences. Bold Investor was rated nearly a stone below Iris Royal over hurdles, and has to concede five pounds here, but does at least have the advantage of having already won over fences. His four-length defeat of Mytimie at Carlisle was a fair performance but Iris Royal may just have too much class for him. Aberfoyle Lad, a winner between the flags, is held in some regard but was a big disappointment on his last start here, when he finished well behind Ibis Rochelais. The latter is a fair hurdler who hasn't quite taken to fences yet, a remark which also applies to Sterling Dot Com.
