held up tracking leaders in 4th, went 3rd briefly before 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2
never travelled or jumped with any fluency in rear, reminder after 1st, not fluent next, mistake 7th, weakened under pressure before 3 out, pulled up before last
tracked leader, awkward 1st, lost 2nd 7th, close 3rd, led approaching 3 out, pressed next, ridden between last 2, stayed on gamely and came clear run-in
held up in touch, went 3rd after 3 out until ridden before next, 3rd again approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace run-in
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 7th, jumped left next, 2nd again 3 out, every chance when went left 2 out, soon driven, held last, ridden and hung left run-in
raced keenly, led until ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened quickly
Max Kendrick has struck up a good association with Phare Isle but the topweight continues to find one or two too good and that may be the case against a couple of younger, up-and-coming rivals. Royal Battalion arguably ran his best race to date over timber this month when a commendable second to Perspicace who has scored since to give the form a healthy sheen. However, Gary Moore's charge is unproven over this trip and he'll need to get every yard around such a testing venue. He'll go close if doing so but Stuart Edmunds does well with his select string which he places to good effect and KAYLA is taken to oblige. A course winner who will stay every yard of the trip, she's yet to be out of the front two in four hurdle starts, should have further improvement to offer and enjoys the quicker ground she'll encounter here.
Phare Isle (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 7th, close 3rd 2 out, held flat, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Sinbad The Sailor (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
Royal Battalion 8-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place 6th, rallied 3 out, every chance next, not quicken last, hung left flat, ran on towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Perspicace (11-12) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gf in May.
Kayla 6-1jfav (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Very Extravagant (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in May.
Arthur Mc Bride (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Mid-division on outside, closed when jumped right and slowly 7th, 4th and beaten 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 8, dist behind Zanstra (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Motts Cross (IRE) 7-1jfav (11-3) Tracked leaders, not fluent and reminder 2nd, ridden after 6th, lost place before 4 out, 6th of 18, 37 1/2l behind Mogestic (11-4) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
Strollawaynow (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Held up, not fluent 3rd, 4th when jumped slowly 14th, went distant 3rd and not fluent 4 out, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, dist behind Saint Raph (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
