not always fluent, led 1st until jumped big 2nd, with leader, led again 6th, drew clear from 3 out, comfortably
took keen hold, led until 1st, led next until 6th, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakening when not fluent 7th, tailed off
tracked leaders, challenged 5th until after 7th, weakened 3 out, soon eased, pulled up before last
jumped very slowly in rear, soon lost touch, tailed off after 5th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders on outside, ridden after 6th, weakened approaching 7th
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, always behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, hampered 2nd, reminders approaching 6th, soon responded and headway, weakened approaching 3 out
There are some interesting lightly raced runners in this novices' hurdle including Telling Stories and Tucumcari but WORTH A KING'S showed decent form when successful at Haydock in March and again when chasing home Mostly Bob at Aintree earlier this month and a reproduction of that level of form would make Don McCain's gelding the one to beat. Barry Leavy's Telling Stories has been well held in his two starts over hurdles so far and needs to improve, while Tucumcari showed promise in one of his two starts in points in Ireland but showed little sign of ability on his rules debut at Worcester back in October and now makes his first start since then. Point-to-point winner Burnthill showed little sign of ability on his rules debut at Hereford last month, while Chris Bealby's Celts Espere has shown little worthwhile form in bumpers or on his hurdling debut. James Lambe's runners can never be completely discounted but Imperial Breeze has shown no real sign of ability so far unlike Worth A King's, who is hard to oppose.
Worth A King's 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 7th, lost place and ridden after next, rallied approaching 3 out, switched right after 2 out, every chance approaching last, one pace flat, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Mostly Bob (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Burnthill (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Bumped 1st, in touch on outside, dropped to mid-dvision 2nd, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next, 6th of 9, well behind Roodolph (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Celts Espere 33-1 (10-7) In touch on outer, mistake 1st, soon lost place, struggling from 6th, 7th of 13, well behind Bringewood Belle (10-4) at Bangor 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Douglas 66-1 (10-8) Settled in mid-division, never on terms, 6th of 15, 32l behind Whoops A Daisy (10-3) at Bangor 2m 1f NH flat (5) gd in Apr.
Imperial Breeze (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, chased leading pair approaching 2 out, no impression and lost 3rd after last, 4th of 16, 30l behind Saveiro (11-0) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Solo Roma (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place after 5f, behind 6f out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Custer Of The West (11-3) at Towcester 2m mdn NH flat (5) gf in Apr.
Tucumcari (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Handy, ridden and weakened after 7th, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Emperor Concerto (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Little Miss Foozle 150-1 (10-5) In rear, lost touch when blundered 3rd, pulled up before next, in a race won by Kosta Brava (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd, 13 ran.
Telling Stories (IRE) 100-1 (10-2) Mid-division on inner, weakened approaching 4 out, 13th of 14, 38l behind Gilded Age (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
