held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, not fluent last, one pace and no chance with winner
held up mid-division, kept on same pace from 2 out
led, hit 3rd, headed next, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders, weakened after 3 out
held up in touch, led 4th, clear when jumped right 2 out, eased towards finish
held up towards rear, weakened after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up behind, headway from 3 out, no impression
chased leader, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, reminders after 3rd, behind and struggling from next
towards rear, mistake 2nd, pushed along after 5th, tailed off 3 out
Any Twiston-Davies runner at this meeting merit close inspection but Rhum looks to have something to find with Balthazar King and RUSSIAN WAR. Gordon Elliot's course record also stands up to close inspection and Russian War's proven ability on the track wins him the vote. It's a little worrying that he ran out when holding every chance on his hurdling bow at Downpatrick but it's best to forgive him that run. He's a winner of a point-to-point and two bumpers from four starts and could take all the beating. Rhum was fairly short in the market ahead of his debut in a Uttoxeter bumper where he finished in midfield. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him leave that form behind but he'll need to whilst his trainer's three recent winners of this race have all been odds-on shots. Balthazar King has had plenty of chances over hurdles but has place claims again whilst Choctaw Nation represents a respected combination and may be able to improve on the form of his hurdling bow. That remark also applies to useful Flat performer Bergonzi whilst Now This Is It is a dual course winner and also enters calculations but Russian War may be the answer.
Balthazar King (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Held up in touch until fell 5th, in a race won by Newsday (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gf in May, 11 ran.
Bergonzi (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Mistakes in rear, weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Royal Rationale (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep '08, 12 ran.
Cocoa Key (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 4th of 11, 30l behind Roses (10-12) at Southwell 2m cond & am NH flat (6) gd in May.
Hill Billy Rock (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 10, 9l behind Caravel (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Now This Is It (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Held up, pulled hard, not fluent 1st or 2nd, headway 4th, led approaching 2 out, soon headed, no extra last, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Zafar (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Russian War (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, closed 4 out, 3rd and every chance when ran out 2 out, in a race won by Failte Go Deo (11-4) at Downpatrick 2m 5f mdn hdl gd in May, 15 ran.
Tantobie (IRE) 28-1 (10-7) Prominent, not fluent 3rd, weakened approaching 5th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Spirit of The Mist (11-0) at Perth 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Jul, 12 ran.
Viel Gluck (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up, reminders 8th, never dangerous, 4th of 12, 26l behind Classic Quart (10-13) at Cartmel 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Rhum (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Prominent, reminder 7f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 15, 17l behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gs in May.
Euphemia (IRE) 150-1 (10-7) Mid-division on outside, lost pace 5th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by The Ginger Man (10-9) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in May, 15 ran.
Hathamore 250-1 (10-7) Mid-division until weakened after last, 11th of 14, 50l behind First Stream (11-0) at Kelso 2m 2f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Hot Native (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, eased final furlong, 14th of 17, 47l behind Flash Scan (11-7) at Limerick 2m N H flat gd in Jul.
Choctaw Nation 10-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway next, mistake 5th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, 8th of 12, 38l behind Press The Button (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Aug.
