held up in mid-division, mistake 2nd and 5th, ridden to chase leading pair 2 out, weakened soon after
chased clear leader to 5th, weakened rapidly, tailed off
hit first, held up in rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
held up in mid-division, hit 3rd and 4th, weakened after next
held up towards rear, blundered 4th, stayed on approaching 2 out, hampered after last, kept on flat
held up in mid-division, headway to chase clear leader 5th, closed to lead approaching 2 out, clear approaching last, easily
keen hold, in touch, weakened 5th, hit next
held up in mid-division, hit 5th, ridden to chase leading pair after 3 out until weakened next
behind, headway 5th, no impression when mistake and jumped right last 2
took keen hold, chased leaders to 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
led, clear 4th, headed when mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace after
chased leaders, weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up last
held up in rear, hit 4th, ridden and hit next, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat
jumped poorly, always in rear, tailed off
King's Revenge is the confident selection here ahead of Salesin and Sahf London. The selection was beaten by a high-class animal in David Pipe's Paulliac three weeks ago at Newbury, and a repeat of that run would see him very much in the frame here. Alan King's gelding was rated in the mid-Eighties on the flat, and showed that soft ground holds no fears for him. He beat the useful yardstick Marodima on that hurdling debut, and granted nominal improvement he gets the vote. Salesin represents a powerful yard and although he ran a fair race when second in a better contest a month ago, he is passed over today. Although he won on soft ground when with Luca Cumani on the flat, these testing conditions won't play to his strengths. Sahf London was narrowly touched off on his hurdling debut in late October, and if building on that run he can go well. However he was just a banded performer on the flat and is unproven on these testing conditions so for those reasons he is passed over today. As is Barney Curley's Faith and Reason, although he warrants close attention in the market, whilst Urban Tiger represents an in-form stable but would need to improve. Ultimately then, we will side with King's Revenge to win for his namesake trainer.
Brilliant (GER) 14-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden next, no impression, 4th of 10, 13l behind Olivair (9-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Faith And Reason (USA) 9-4fav (9-7) Led after 1f, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 6l behind Cool Customer (9-5) at Windsor 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) gf in Jul (Flat).
Henchman 10-11fav (10-12) Held up, headway 3 out, kept on from next, in 4th when stumbled last, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Olivair (9-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Nov.
King's Revenge 20-1 (10-12) In touch, headway after 5th, ridden after 3 out, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 4l behind Pauillac (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Machhapuchhare 33-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 5th, soon ridden, kept on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 14, 15l behind South O'The Border (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Sahf London 10-3 (10-12) Tracked leading pair, challenged 2 out, driven to take narrow lead last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, hd behind Left Hand Drive (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Salesin 11-4 (11-0) Led to 3rd, with winner, ridden after 3 out, no impression approaching 2 out, 2nd of 9, 11l behind Risk Runner (11-0) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Urban Tiger (GER) 4-11fav (10-12) Prominent, led after 3 out, soon ridden and headed, weakening when mistake 2 out, 3rd of 9, 17l behind Cheveley Flyer (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
