pressed leader, led approaching 8th, ridden and headed 3 out, hung left after 2 out, still every chance when pecked last, no impression towards finish
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, in touch 8th, ridden and struggling from 10th, tailed off
chased leaders, went close 2nd when slightly hampered and hit 4 out, led next, mistake 2 out, driven out
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, jumped slowly 10th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, not fluent 6th, jumped right from 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, blundered badly 6th, moved into 5th after 10th, no impression, tailed off
led until approaching 8th, weakened and eased after 10th, pulled up before 4 out
A poor contest looks to be ripe for the taking here by KING AR AGHAIDH, with Procas De Thaix and Alaghiraar others up for consideration. Trainer David Arbuthnot has his string in cracking form and the nine-year-old selection, rated 122 over hurdles, is a surprisingly late addition to the novice chasing ranks. The mount of Timmy Murphy stays well and acts on good ground, while there is no one better than his pilot for giving him a good education in this sphere. Procas De Thaix acts on a sound surface, though both his wins have been on ground softer than good, and he has also had a number of chances, so he does have a vulnerable profile despite going well enough in defeat over three miles at Taunton last time. Alaghiraar has a few pounds to find with our pick based on hurdling form, and he makes his chase debut for trainer Emma Lavelle. Decent going suits and he stays this far, so we could see more from him over the bigger obstacles in such a mediocre race. Another Brother has plenty to prove judged on recent efforts over hurdles, but he too could show more now chasing, and there are no concerns over his stamina or the ground, though King Ar Aghaidh will do for us.
Alaghiraar (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Chased leading pair, ridden after 3 out, weakened and hit 2 out, 8th of 9, 36l behind Zabeel Palace (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Another Brother (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, mistake 6th, struggling after, tailed off when pulled up approaching 3 out, in a race won by Money Order (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
King Ar Aghaidh (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 3rd, not fluent 7th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 11, 50l behind Magic Sky (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Procas de Thaix (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, led 5th until 7th, chased leader, mistake 4 out, lost 2nd soon after, left modest 2nd last, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Vodka Brook (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chase (4) sft in Mar.
Remember Bampi 3-1 (12-0) Trckd ldrs; went 2nd 14; rdn & wknd 2 out, 3rd of 5, 25l behind Kings Bitter (12-0) at Ston Easton 3m ptp in Mar.
The Composer 12-1 (11-2) In touch in 4th, ridden and hit 2 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 10, 12l behind Walls Way (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
The Factor (12-0) Led to 3 & 6 til pu 10, in a race won by Waxing Gibus (11-7) at Garthorpe 2m 4f ptp in May '08, 8 ran.
