With the going desperate today we¿ll side with recent heavy ground c&d winner Simarian to follow up, with the progressive Ruff Diamond a major threat if he can handle conditions. The Evan Williams-trained selection was a wide margin winner here last month and this looks his optimum trip. He has a mark of 124 and if he races up to that level of ability, given that he handles the ground, he will be tough to beat. If there is one to lower his colours then it is likely to be Ruff Diamond. Alan King looks to have another decent sort in his yard with this recent Bangor and Newton Abbot winner. He has been good enough to run in Group 3s on the flat and is rated 80 in that sphere, which should equate to something a little short of Simarian¿s jumps mark, though there looks plenty of improvement to come. Greek Theatre should get every yard of this trip on his jumping debut but he has going concerns, while there are no such issues for Wake Board, who debuted well in an Auteuil quagmire and looks interesting. However, we¿ll take Simarian here.
Ruff Diamond (USA) 2-1jt-fav (11-5) Chased leader, shaken up to lead 3 out, drew clear from 2 out, easily, won at N Abbot 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Aug beating Bathwick Man (11-2) by 17l, 8 ran.
Simarian (IRE) 2-1 (10-13) Led after 1st, not fluent 4th, clear when went left and not fluent last, ran on well, won at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Aug beating Rory Boy (11-4) by 14l, 6 ran.
Balata 12-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, behind, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 4l behind Lord Deevert (8-3) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Jul (Flat).
Galley Slave (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) In touch, effort 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from last, 4th of 9, 13l behind Maidstone Mixture (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Aug.
Greek Theatre (USA) 25-1 (9-0) Reared start, pulled very hard in rear to 7f out, headway and chased leaders halfway, lost touch over 3f out, weakened and eased over 1f out, last of 8, 25l behind Bushy Dell (8-6) at Kempton 1m 3f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Aug (Flat).
Wake Board (FR) (10-1) 3rd of 14, 6l behind Viotti (10-1) at Auteuil 1m 7f NH flat hvy in May (Flat).
Hennalaine (IRE) 13-2 (8-2) Reluctant to go to post, bumped, awkward, went right start, lost many lengths, switched left soon after, well in rear, headway over 1f out, plugged on one pace inside final, 6th of 10, 5l behind Who's Winning (9-4) at Folkestone 6f clm (6).
Miss Mozart 66-1 (8-11) Behind, pushed along halfway, no impression on leaders final 2f, 11th of 18, 7l behind The Jostler (9-0) at Goodwood 6f 2yo mdn fll aut (5) gf in Sept '07 (Flat).
Shipboard Romance (IRE) 10-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Kijivu (10-7) at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd.
