in touch, ridden to challenge before 3 our, weakened before last
prominent, under pressure 4 out, soon lost place
in touch, lost place 3rd, soon towards rear, mistake 5 out, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
midfield, effort 4 out, soon no impression
chased leaders, under pressure 3 out, weakened next
always behind, weakened 4 out
led until approaching 3 out, rallied next, kept on well under pressure
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, chased leaders next, never able to challenge
always prominent, not fluent 6th, led before 3 out, ridden after next, ran on well
EMBSAY CRAG (NAP) has obvious claims on his second over a shorter trip here a fortnight ago. Dropping down a grade for this, he gets the vote. Stablemate Oscar 'Scar ran out when still in contention over these hurdles last time and has something to prove now while Bescot Springs won a Class 3 event at Perth in September only to disappoint off today's higher mark on his latest start. Pay The King won a novices' event here last month and will find this tougher but Solway Sam is worth considering off his current mark having finished second in better company of late.
Pay The King (IRE) 10-3 (10-7) Prominent, went 2nd before 3 out, led 3 out, headed last, rallied run-in to regain lead towards finish, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Quick Brew (10-5) by hd, 15 ran.
Pudsey House 33-1 (10-7) Led, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 13, 35l behind Seventh Sign (11-9) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Bourne 13-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden before 3 out, soon lost place, 7th of 9, 19l behind Bless The Wings (11-12) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Oct.
Forty Crown (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind See Double You (11-5) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in May.
Embsay Crag 12-1 (10-2) Chased leaders in 5th, led 3 out, headed before last, kept on run-in, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Secrete Stream (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Mistral Reine 8-1 (11-9) Virtually refused to race, tailed off, pulled up before 3rd, in a race won by Campbonnais (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Bescot Springs (IRE) 3-1fav (10-13) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden before 3 out, one pace from 3 out, 5th of 7, 20l behind Top Billing (11-12) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Solway Sam 11-1 (10-0) Tracked winner, not fluent 6th, ridden 4 out, no impression on winner when mistake last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 16, 9l behind Parish Business (10-9) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Oscar O'scar (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Chased leader, led before 8th, narrow lead when ran out 3 out, in a race won by Trafficker (11-1) at Wetherby 2m 6f cond nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct, 11 ran.
Silver Dragon 20-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, outpaced 3 out, headway before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 15l behind Madam Lilibet (10-11) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
