held up, jumped slowly third, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before next
mid-division, weakened 4th, blundered 5th, tailed off
jumped left 1st, always behind, tailed off
led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, weakened flat
raced wide and prominent, weakened approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up and dismounted near finish
chased leaders until weakened approaching 5th
held up in rear, headway 5th every chance last, ridden and flashed tail flat, one pace
took keen hold in mid-division, headway 4th, chased leader after next, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, no impression from 5th
held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened after next
always prominent, ridden and hit 2 out, led last, ran on
held up, hard ridden after 3rd, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Plenty of runners in the finale but it is not really that competitive and the vote goes to Honor Rouge over Haile Selassie, Interstice, Ripcord, Seal Of Office and Takash, with the vote going to Honor Rouge. Running through the field. Black Legend has bits of form while Philip Hobbs' Gold Standard won over 14 furlongs on the Flat at Salisbury three years ago but has been plagued by injury. The market might prove a guide as to his chances after a near -two-year absence. Interstice rattled up a hat-trick of wins on Southwell's all-weather at the start of last year, so might go well and should improve on his course and distance hurdling debut 21 days ago. Ripcord ran well when second at Stratford two runs ago, form that looks more than good enough to make him competitive at this level, while the nicely-bred Seal Of Office showed promise on the Flat last year before losing his way and hails from a stable that can produce them to score at the first time of asking. Smith's Tribe has shown promise in bumpers but is likely to appreciate a longer trip in time. The Lords Cross has been placed in points while Charlie Mann's Takash showed good promise in Ireland before his form tailed off but, if he's anywhere near his best, has to hold solid claims in a run-of-the-mill event. Honour Rouge's Flat 12 furlong Flat win last May was gained from a mark of 81 and, given that he has shown promise in two hurdling starts to date, while Haile Selassie has also shown promise and he too is a 12 furlong Flat winner, having achieved that from a mark of 59. Put that little lot into the mix and we come up with the selection, in what is a weak race, of Honor Rouge.
