shade keen, held up in last pair, pushed along and struggling before 8th, plugged on into modest 4th run-in
chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, pecked 2 out, hard ridden and strong challenge run-in, just failed
made most until headed approaching 4 out, lost 2nd 3 out, no impression when went right last, kept on same pace in 3rd
chased leaders, went close 2nd at 4th, every chance 4 out, soon pushed along, weakened 2 out
chased leader until 4th, handy 3rd, led approaching 4 out, good jump 2 out, blundered last, ridden and strongly pressed run-in, held on gamely, all out
held up last, steady headway 8th, pushed along in 5th 4 out, mistake and weakened next
Mercian King won this last year and is better off at the weights with third King Alfonso. The latter is on a roll, however, and bidding for a third course victory. ONTOPOFTHEWORLD improved again to complete the hat-trick at Newton Abbot and is worth sticking with in his current mood – he can defy a penalty. Nightfly has yet to finish outside of the first two over fences but hasn’t raced since successful at Ludlow in May off a 6lb lower mark. Burrenbridge Hotel is still 13lb than for his last win.
Burrenbridge Hotel (IRE) 11-4 (11-11) Reluctant to jump off, planted and lost about 15 lengths, closed from 2nd, went 2nd 5thy until next, not fluent and struggling 4 out, well held after, plugged on into modest 3rd after 2 out, 3rd of 4, 27l behind Skipping On (10-3) at Towcester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Nightfly 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, mistake next, challenged 3 out, soon led, hard pressed when rival made bad error 2 out, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in May beating Walden Prince (10-8) by 1l, 13 ran.
Ontopoftheworld (IRE) Evensfav (10-11) Made all, went clear 2nd until steadied briefly 6th, in command between last 2, always just doing enough, driven out, unchallenged, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating I'dliketheoption (11-12) by 3l, 4 ran.
King Alfonso 3-1jfav (11-5) Tracked leader, led 6th, mistake and headed next, led 8th, headed 3 out, edged right and led again after last, soon clear, won at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Salto Chisco (11-12) by 6l, 7 ran.
Mercian King (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Led until after 2nd, prominent, weakened 2 out, 6th of 9, 34 1/4l behind Innocent Touch (12-1) at Stratford 2m hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Cap Du Nord (FR) 13-2 (11-6) Held up on outer, mistake 4th, struggling 6th, never threatened leaders, 4th of 6, 22 1/4l behind Railroad Junkie (11-1) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
