held up in rear, headway 6th, went 2nd after 3 out, no impression next
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out until before next, soon weakened
in touch, not always fluent, weakened 3 out, blundered last
mid-division, not fluent and last 3rd, behind 6th
took keen hold, handy on outside, lost 2nd before 3 out, soon weakened
prominent until 5th, behind next
Keys was unbeaten in bumpers and ran two fine races over timber and though that was back in 2012 and he's changed stables Tony Carroll can get one ready as well as anyone. However, the race sharpness of STARS ROYALE, who ran well here last month before an even better effort at Towcester on Boxing Day, may prove too much for him. Boru's Brook disappointed when ods-on for a bumper at Worcester though his pedigree points to him being a decent hurdler and he can prove better than stablemate Brother Bennett, who should have come on for his run at Ludlow last month, his first since landing a bumper at Killarney in May. Coincidentaly won three times on the Flat and is worth watching in the market.
Boru's Brook (IRE) 10-11fav (11-1) Mid-division in touch, headway over 4f out, soon driven to challenge, ridden over 2f out, not pace of winner over 1f out, no impression in 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Paolozzi (11-1) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in Aug.
Keys (IRE) 4-7fav (11-0) Held up rear of mid-division, headway before 3 out, went 3rd soon after 3 out, tracked winner travelling well before 2 out, soon challenging, upsides and every chance last, ridden found little and weakened final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Super Duty (11-8) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (2) gs in Feb '12.
Stars Royale (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 5th, went 2nd from 2 out until flat, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Tea For Two (10-11) at Towcester 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Dec.
Warrant Officer 12-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 16, 27l behind Speedy Tunes (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Bonnie Major 100-1 (11-0) In touch, mistake 1st, soon lost place and in rear, never a factor, 8th of 10, 34l behind The Green Ogre (11-7) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Coincidently 8-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, behind until headway to lead over 6f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon lost place, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 11l behind The Gay Cavalier (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol (flat).
Double Bud 66-1 (10-10) Led to 4 out, quickly weakened, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Millicent Silver (10-10) at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Brother Bennett (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Behind, some headway into mid-division after 4 out, weakened from next, 9th of 16, well behind Days Of Heaven (11-0) at Ludlow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
