made all, not fluent 2nd or 7th, clear 2 out, very easily
chased winner, not always fluent, lost 2nd 7th, soon driven along, mistake 9th, weakened before 3 out, mistake last
keen early in last, beginning to struggling when fell 8th
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, went 2nd from 7th, ridden and no impression on winner before 2 out
AJP KINGDOM has three wins and two seconds from five runs under Rules and is hard to oppose. He's been perfectly placed by Fergal O'Brien and is already proven under these conditions. He was an easy winner latest from a veteran chaser not seen over hurdles since 2019 and is again in against rivals who are first and foremost chasers. Rostello did run over hurdles when seventh of ten at Hexham last time but that was a first start over timber since October 2020. He does receive plenty of weight from the selection but needs a major jolt of improvement from that recent run. Nearly Perfect last jumped a hurdle in public in March 2019 and Nitwit has been beaten 199 lengths and pulled up on his two starts.
Ajp Kingdom (IRE) 1-4fav (11-9) Made all, hit 8th, forged away home turn, soon in command, not fluent 3 out, coasted home, not extended, won at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gd in May beating Court Master (11-2) by 16l, 5 ran.
Nearly Perfect 28-1 (11-9) Prominent on outside, lost place before 3rd, pushed along before 13th, not fluent 15th or 17th, mistake and behind 19th, pulled up before 4 out, at Perth 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Nitwit (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, pushed along after 4 out, soon tailed off and pulled up, at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) sft in Mar.
Rostello (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Led, set decent tempo and went clear after 3rd, pushed along when headed before home turn, weakened and lost position before last, behind on run-in, 7th of 10, 18l behind Harper Valley (11-2) at Hexham 2m 4f (4) gd in May.
