jumped left throughout, made all, clear 2 out, readily
tracked winner and keen, ridden and effort approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
mid-division, headway 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace
always behind, mistake 3rd, tailed off next, pulled up before 2 out
hit 1st, keen in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up, some headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked winner and keen, ridden and one pace from 3 out
mid-division, headway 3rd, joined winner next, weakened rapidly approaching 3 out, virtually pulled up flat
chased leaders until weakened 4th
Charlton Kings may well follow up his recent win at the expense of the topweight Escompteur, with Flying Enterprise, Beehawk, and Malaga Boy all making for an interesting opener. Quite a few of the top stables are represented here, but the fact is that Charlton Kings, trained by Ron Hodges, is the one with the form in the book. Bought from Ireland after his fall in a hunter chase, the son of King's Ride went in at the first time of asking when beating the highly-rated Martha's Kinsman over hurdles at Towcester last week and will be kept to the smaller obstacles until next season. Reckoned to have quite an engine by his new trainer, Charlton Kings has nothing to fear from today's opposition on the evidence so far and should make a bold bid to follow up. Escompteur takes a big drop in class, but his only victory came at Plumpton last October and he will do well to give weight away to our selection, while Flying Enterprise was only beaten a short-head by another Pipe inmate, Medison, at Ludlow, but was a beaten favourite himself at Chepstow next time. Beehawk has an absence to overcome and Kingscourt Lad's yard has had well documented problems, and so it may be that Malaga Boy will pay to follow for a place. Our vote though goes to the progressive Charlton Kings.
Escompteur (FR) 16-1 Held up in rear, hampered bend before 2nd, driven and struggling after 3 out, 12th of 18, well behind Julius Caesar at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs.
Beehawk 100-1 Held up towards rear, ridden 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 18, well behind Gold Medallist at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (D) gd in Dec.
Kingscourt Lad (IRE) 40-1 Took keen hold, held up, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 11, 30l behind Jair Ohmsford at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft.
Tates Avenue (IRE) 50-1 Held up behind, hit 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on and no impression from next, 6th of 17, 18l behind Reel Missile at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gd.
