in touch, went 2nd 3rd, left in lead 7th, ridden and headed after 2 out, hit last, stayed on
held up, blundered 2nd, not fluent 3rd, soon pulled up
chased leader to 3rd, blundered 4th, tailed off when refused 4 out, continued
led until fell 7th
held up, mistake 4th, left 2nd 7th, led after 2 out, pushed out
Pearl King gets the confident vote here with Articulation and Water Taxi rating the main dangers. The selection was the best of these over hurdles and was a fair third behind Bonechester Bridge last time out. He is sure to have been well schooled for his chasing debut and is in receipt of all the weight for age allowances. Articulation rates the main danger on his best form but he disappointed for no apparent reason last time out so he cannot be put forward with any confidence. Water Taxi is another that could go well on his latest third behind Jack The Giant. This looks easier but he is hard to win with and is taken on with this in mind. Of the remainder, Planters Punch is from a yard in form and he is worth a cautionary look in the market but we prefer Pearl King.
Articulation 10-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders on outer, dropped to 7th halfway, weakened before 4 out, 13th of 18, 44l behind Schindlers Hunt (11-12) at Punchestown 2m beg chs sft.
Critical Stage (IRE) 125-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, hit 6th and soon outpaced, no chance after, 5th of 6, well behind Denman (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Planters Punch (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) In touch, headway 4th, ridden and every chance 2 out, switched left and one pace flat, 4th of 10, 5l behind Time Marches On (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Oct.
Water Taxi 10-1 (11-5) Chased leading trio, ridden after 3 out, pecked 2 out and last, stayed on, 3rd of 4, 5l behind Jack The Giant (10-7) at Sandown 2m beg chs (3) gf.
Pearl King (IRE) 5-4fav (11-11) Held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, 3rd when mistake last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Bonchester Bridge (10-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
