held up in touch, chased leader 4 out, driven to challenge after next, led and not fluent last, ridden out
held up in rear but in touch, not fluent 4th, under pressure 4 out, weakened next, behind when jumped right 2 out
held up in touch, mistake 3rd, slow 5th, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leader, hard driven 3 out, weakened before next
led, hard driven approaching 2 out, headed last, kept on same pace
ROYAL MAX looks capable of going one better than on debut and taking this prize. He only has four opponents to better and three of those are making their debuts over obstacles. Addison De Witt made the frame twice in twelve starts on the level and ran second off a mark of 51 in a first time visor on his final start. He doesn't sport any headgear today and hasn't looked straightforward but does appeal as the type to make up into a hurdler. Captain Cavendish was of a similar level of ability although did manage to win a race when fitted with blinkers for his second start; he's had just the one run on turf. Agricultural has been beaten by 33 lengths on each of his two starts so has it all to prove but he is related to a winning hurdler. There was some promise to be gleaned from Orsippus' performance at Market Rasen where he was held up a long way off the pace; he can improve on that but the selection looked to achieve more. Royal Max was beaten a long way behind Rupestrian but it wasn't a bad effort and he can only improve for the experience and is the stable selected from three entries which is enough to persuade us that Royal Max is the one to beat.
Addison de Witt 9-1 (8-2) Hampered start, in rear, headway on inside from over 3f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, soon hung right and looked reluctant, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Omokoroa (9-7) at Catterick 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gs (flat).
Agricultural 100-1 (8-11) Always in rear, outpaced and behind over 4f out, 7th of 8, 33l behind Urban Poet (9-2) at Hamilton 1m 3f mdn stks (5) gf (flat).
Captain Cavendish (IRE) 100-1 (8-9) Soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, gradually weakened, last of 8, 14l behind Dome Rocket (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo clm stks (6) pol in Jun (flat).
Orsippus (USA) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, ridden and outpaced next, no impression approaching last, 4th of 10, 23l behind Herschel (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Royal Max (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, lost place 4th, plugged on approaching last, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 14l behind Rupestrian (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (3) gd.
