led, headed approaching 2 out, weakened last
towards rear, headway 10th, effort 3 out, disputed 2nd last, no extra flat
towards rear, headway 5 out, effort 2 out, disputing 2nd last, kept on
mid-division, headway when not fluent 9th, behind when jinked and unseated rider 3 out
with leader, led approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly
prominent to 8th, soon beaten
towards rear, headway and in touch 4 out, outpaced next
in touch, outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on to go 2nd flat
in touch, headway 8th to track leaders, weakened 3 out
raced keen in touch, mistake 5th, weakened 5 out
This beginners chase has attracted a quality field and the runners should win plenty more races between them over the course of the season. Trying to ascertain which will be ready to do themselves justice today is not easy though; we'll nominate KILLYGLEN ahead of Golden Child and Jass. The selection is an Irish raider who has already made one visit to this track and he ran a fine race on that occasion to make Jaunty Flight pull out all the stops. He went on to run a blinder at Punchestown to finish fifth behind Kalahari King and should make up into a better chaser. Golden Child has the benefit of a run over fences to his name and he fared well at Perth in finishing a close third to South Bronx. The run and experience should have brought him on but he lacks the star quality that some of these possess. Jass didn't achieve as much as some of these over hurdles either but he has also had a run over fences already. He finished fourth behind Berings Express at Bangor and could improve for that initial experience; it's interesting that Timmy Murphy is due to take the ride. Plenty more in this field could emerge as leading players and a market check is advised before parting with the hard earned but Killyglen appears to have solid credentials and is selected.
Checkerboard (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) In touch, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Hold Em (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (2) gd in Feb, 11 ran.
Golden Child (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway to track winner 10th, ridden to lead briefly 2 out, kept on under pressure, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 9, 1/2l behind South Bronx (10-2) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Sept.
High Bird Humphrey 16-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Breaking Storm (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sept.
Jass 9-2 (10-13) Led, bumped by loose horse approaching 8th, headed approaching 3 out, ridden and outpaced approaching next, one pace, 4th of 7, 9l behind Berings Express (10-13) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Sept.
Killyglen (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, no impression and kept on same pace from next, 5th of 24, 17l behind Kalahari King (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl gd in Apr.
Lucius Rufo (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Led to 1st, chased leaders, reminders 5th, lost place 7th, soon behind, 14th of 18, well behind Pelo Du Bief (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Poker De Sivola (FR) 17-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, joined leader 6th, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Jug Of Punch (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
Quws Law (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led approaching 7th, stayed on well from last, won at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr beating Rathowen (10-11) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Tot O'Whiskey 8-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened soon after, 12th of 17, 22l behind Mous Of Men (10-12) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Will Be Done (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, slightly hampered 4th, 4th halfway, 3rd 5 out, led travelling well 3 out, narrow advantage when fell at the last in race won by Kilcrea Castle (11-2) at Gowran Park 2m 4f nov chs gs in Nov, 14 ran.
Young Albert (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Held up in touch and keen, weakened 4 out, 8th of 9, 27l behind Quws Law (11-6) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr.
Industrial Star (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) In touch, not fluent and reminder after 6th, mistake 8th, soon struggling, hampered 2 out, mistake last, 4th of 9, 16l behind Eleazar (11-12) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in May '07.
