held up, headway 8th, weakened 4 out
behind, headway after 6th, ridden 9th, one pace from 4 out
held up, headway 11th, hung left from 3 out, mistake 2 out, led flat, ridden out
led, hit 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed and not quicken flat
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened 2 out
chased leader to 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
raced wide, behind, headway 11th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, behind when mistake 3 out
chased leaders to 7th, behind when mistake 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Dubai Ace looks to be getting his act together now over fences and has to be respected but Kings Brook looks to have found an ideal opportunity to open his account over the larger obstacles and he gets the vote with Resplendent Star rated the best of the rest. The selection has been running with great consistency over fences of late and a reproduction of recent efforts should suffice. Texas Ranger had some decent form over hurdles three years ago but is clearly not as good as he once was, while Jonjo O'Neill's The Rising Moon, who was no world-beater over hurdles, lacks any chasing experience and may be best watched on his debut over fences. Resplendent Star has shown enough to suggest that he can win races over fences but his form does not match that of Kings Brook, who gets the vote.
Charlton Kings (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Always in rear and pulled up 2 out in race won by Moon Catcher (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in May, 10 ran.
Dubai Ace (USA) 11-4jt-fav (10-11) Prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, flashed tail and not quicken flat, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Kristoffersen (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Jul.
Kings Brook 15-8fav (11-0) Prominent, quick into lead after 7th, ridden 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon no extra, 2nd of 6, 18l behind Cream Cracker (10-2) at N Abbot 2m beg chs (4) gd in Jul.
Lord Jay Jay (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Led to approaching 7th, left in lead 8th, headed 9th, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 8, 23l behind Lutea (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f beg chs (4) gf in Jul.
Resplendent Star (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) In rear, ridden 8th, left 3rd 4 out, went moderate 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 17l behind Harry Potter (11-2) at Stratford 2m 1f nov chs (4) gd in Jul.
Texas Ranger 7-2 (10-12) Led, hit 3rd, headed 4th, chased leader after, left in lead and hampered 11th, headed 4 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, 4th of 7, 8l behind Rare Society (10-5) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gf in Jul.
The Rising Moon (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Held up, steady headway from 7th, chased leaders from 3 out, driven to challenge for 2nd, no chance with winner when blundered 2 out, 4th of 15, 10l behind Harrycat (11-1) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Jul.
Slalom (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) In touch, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 7, 30l behind Kristoffersen (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Jul.
