led until 1st, chased leader until 10th, no extra in 4th when untidy last
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway from 8th, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 2nd and 4th, not fluent 7th, blundered badly when well beaten 10th, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 1st, went 2nd last, stayed on, no impression on winner
mid-division, headway after 2nd, mistake 4th, not fluent 7th, 2nd from 10th, clear 2 out, ridden out
chased leaders, lost place after 10th, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, headway 10th, outpaced before 3 out, well held after, plugged on before last
in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake next, behind 8th, pulled up before 3 out
led 1st, clear 3rd until after 6th, mistake 10th, headed before 3 out, no impression on winner and lost 2nd last
always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, well behind 9th, pulled up before 3 out
The lack of winning form renders this a contest to treat with caution and PREMIER KING is the choice, primarily due to the ability of Dan Skelton to generate major improvement from new horses to the yard. The import houses nothing more than adequate Irish form but has only had a couple of spins over the larger obstacles and hopefully the yard can work the oracle again. He certainly begins life with the stable off a feasible mark. Nemean Lion ran a much better race last time over hurdles behind the prolific Mr Mafia and should be in the shake-up if taking to fences, whilst Viva Rafa enters major contention too. He made a pleasing bow over fences when a Hereford runner-up and was still in contention when coming to grief late on at Southwell last time. Rock N'stones has place claims.
Southport 14-1 (12-4) Held up in 5th, lost place after 11th, in rear and struggling 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Irish Octave (11-10) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) gd in May.
Alexander The Grey 8-1 (11-7) Led, mistake 5th, not fluent 3 out, headed on last bend, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 29l behind Sense Of Urgency (10-9) at Hexham 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Viva Rafa (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Behind, smooth headway 5 out, chasing leaders when fell 2 out, at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in May.
Nemean Lion (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Mid-division on outer, tracked leaders after 6th, led 4 out, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, well held in 3rd from last, 3rd of 13, 9 1/2l behind Mr Mafia (11-9) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Samson 14-1 (10-11) Slowly away, held up, headway to take 2nd before 4th, led 13th, headed next, led 15th, headed before 2 out, 3rd and no impression when not fluent last, no extra, 3rd of 6, 17 1/4l behind Youngoconnor (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (4) gd in May.
Premier King (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Held up, 8th from 3rd, closer order when impeded 10th, soon 4th, 3rd approaching 4 out, not go with front pair from before straight, jumped right last 2, kept on run-in without troubling winner into 2nd close home, 2nd of 10, 30l behind Alpha Male (11-11) at Punchestown 2m 4f sft in Apr.
Flamingo Lane (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression 3 out, soon no extra and weakened, behind when refused last, at Clonmel 2m hvy in Mar.
Brinestine (USA) 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, led 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra from last, 5th of 10, 15l behind Northandsouth (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp (5) gd in May.
Rock N'stones (IRE) 3-1fav (10-6) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra in 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 6 1/4l behind Russian Royale (11-10) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gd in Jun.
King Golan (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, under pressure 6th, headway approaching 5 out, weakened next, 7th of 11, 20 1/2l behind Auenwirbel (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Super Lunar (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) In touch, headway 13th, chased leader 15th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, 4th of 10, 17 1/4l behind Lotus Pond (11-7) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Daydream Island (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Behind, remote 5th when mistake 10th, pulled up after, at Cartmel 2m 5f (4) gf in Jun.
