led, headed approaching 5th, pushed along from next, weakened flat
held up, headway 7th, weakened under pressure from 3 out
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, pushed along from next, weakened approaching 4 out
always prominent, led 5th, jumped right 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, headed and no extra flat
held up and behind, no chance when eased approaching 2 out
mistake 1st, soon chasing leaders, mistake 6th, weakening when blundered 4 out, tailed off
King Diamond can get the better of Magot De Grugy, Glengarra and Jam Packed. Frank Jordan's charge has rarely reproduced the form that saw him finish second to Mid Dancer in 2005 but he has been relatively lightly raced since and looks to be on his way back. He was only just run out of things at Leicester last time and should be able to win a small race like this. Magot De Grugy has been in good heart this term and may have another race in him from this mark but this trip is definitely on the short side for him even in conditions as testing as this. Jam Packed stays further but has done his winning at around this trip and should be competitive without looking obviously well treated. Glengarra doesn't win very often but can usually be relied upon to run his race and finished close up here last time. A tight contest but King Diamond is taken to prevail.
Glengarra (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Led, headed 6th, led again approaching 2 out, headed last, one pace flat, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Brave Villa (11-5) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Elgar 50-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, lost place 4 out, no chance after, 10th of 16, 32l behind Basic Fact (10-11) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Magot de Grugy (FR) 5-2jt-fav (11-6) Chased leaders, led 5 out, headed approaching 4 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Noble Bily (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Jam Packed (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (11-2) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, beaten last, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Silver Prophet (11-1) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
King Diamond (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, led approaching 2 out, headed after last, short of room flat, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Zorro De La Vega (11-2) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Josear 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders until weakened after 9th, 5th of 9, 29l behind King Louis (11-3) at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Dec.
Orlyheart (FR) 28-1 (10-11) Close up when unseated rider at the 8th in race won by Cousin Nicky (11-10) at Taunton 2m 3f clm chs (3) gs, 4 ran.
