led, not fluent 4th, clear next, ridden after 3 out, headed when not fluent last, soon beaten
held up in 5th, raced keenly, hit 3rd, headway to chase leader when mistake 3 out, led on bit just before last, easily
held up in 4th, not fluent 5th, went 3rd after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, lost 3rd flat
tracked leader, raced keenly, lost 2nd 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
always in rear, mistake 2nd, not fluent 3rd, lost touch 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, ridden and weakened after 3 out, went moderate 3rd flat
Michael Chapman's Royal Max has shown improved form for going over hurdles, winning his last two starts after two promising placed efforts in his first two starts, and he has to be respected but a double penalty for his successes makes this more difficult and a better bet may be FORTY THIRTY, who gets the vote with True Britannia rated the pick of the remainder. The selection was capable on the flat when trained by Mick Channon and, having fallen on his hurdling debut for Sheena West, won with plenty in hand at Bangor last time. A reproduction of that latest effort may well see the gelding follow up. Henry De Bromhead's Choisir Breeze ran promisingly on his hurdling debut at Tramore and could be of interest here, while Tom Dascombe's Lambourn Genie was nothing out of the ordinary on the flat but may improve for going over timber. Tricky Trev is another newcomer that could be of interest but more solid claims are held by True Britannia, who like Royal Max has won her last two starts and she has a hefty penalty to carry as a result. Forty Thirty obviously has a penalty to carry for his win at Bangor but only a 6lb one rather than 10lbs and he is taken to win again.
Royal Max (IRE) 17-2 (11-1) Made all, soon clear, mistake last, unchallenged, won at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gf in Aug beating Rupestrian (11-1) by 8l, 7 ran.
Forty Thirty (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, keen hold, headway 3 out, led next, ran on well, won at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Aug beating Marsool (10-12) by 6l, 8 ran.
Choisir Breeze (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leader, dropped to 5th before 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 11l behind Law Officer (10-12) at Tramore 2m 3yo mdn hdl gf in Aug.
Lambourn Genie (UAE) 14-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway from 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 12l behind My Girl Jode (8-12) at Yarmouth 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gs in Jul (flat).
Tricky Trev (USA) 8-1 (8-9) Towards rear, ridden over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 14th of 15, 22l behind Mandhooma (8-12) at Brighton 6f 3yo hcp 0-55 (6) gf in Aug (flat).
Troubletimestwo (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Prominent, not fluent 1st, lost place after next, pushed along in rear 3rd, well behind 5th, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Fongoli (10-2) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Jul, 8 ran.
True Britannia 7-4fav (10-12) Made all, clear approaching bypassed 2nd to last hurdle, easily, won at Hereford 2m 1f juv fll nov hdl (3yo) (4) gf beating Diamond Dee (10-10) by 12l, 11 ran.
