chased leading pair, blundered 4th, ridden to chase leader 4 out, jumped right 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching last, kept on, never dangerous
held up mid-division, went 2nd 3 out, led next, shaken up flat, comfortably
tracked leader to 4 out, soon lost place, ridden and rallied approaching last, stayed on to take 3rd towards finish
led, ridden 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened next
keen, held up in rear, improved to track leaders 4 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, soon one pace
His form doesn't look outstanding but PROFESSOR HIGGINS is still heading in the right direction and he is fancied to see off Ouste. The selection has an 8lb rise for his Kelso success where he saw off High Bird Humphrey. That was a fair effort to turn the tables on the latter as he had been second to him in March and if he is fit after 195 days off then he should run well here today. Ouste is starting to look very attractively handicapped if he can regain some of his form from earlier in the year, whilst Green Gamble comes here woefully out of form but again he has a good chance on his form from March. Eluvaparty needs to improve for the drop in class, Yawl Springs has a nice racing weight but was very disappointing at Perth last month, whilst King Brex has a good record at the track but is yet another in the race who comes here on the back of a bad run. That doesn't apply to Professor Higgins, and accordingly he is selected.
King Brex (DEN) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Nudge And Nurdle (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf, 9 ran.
Ouste (FR) 7-2 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway to track leading pair approaching 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, weakened last, 5th of 9, 23l behind Nudge And Nurdle (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf.
Professor Higgins (IRE) 11-10fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, smooth headway on bit to dispute lead flat, soon ridden and drew clear close home, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Apr beating High Bird Humphrey (10-12) by 4l, 8 ran.
Green Gamble 16-1 (11-3) Led to 3rd, chased leaders to 8th, soon behind and pulled up before last, in a race won by Nudge And Nurdle (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf, 9 ran.
Eluvaparty 100-1 (11-4) Always last, struggling when mistake dwelt, soon weakened, last of 7, well behind Gwanako (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs (2) gs in Dec.
Yawl Springs (IRE) 11-4 (10-8) Held up in rear and keen, went 2nd at 3rd, weakened 3 out, last of 4, well behind Prospectorous (10-12) at Perth 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Sep.
