led, headed 6th, stayed handy until weakened soon after 3 out
held up in touch, mistake 2nd, headway to chase leading trio after 4 out, weakened under pressure next
tracked leader until blundered 2nd and mistake next, chased leaders to 5th, mistake 7th, soon struggling, 4th and no chance when blundered badly 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, no impression
tracked leader 2nd, led 6th to next, blundered and lost place 8th, rallied 3 out, challenge and mistake next, driven to lead last, drew clear flat
tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd at 5th, led 7th, ridden 4 lengths clear 3 out, joined and blundered 2 out, headed last, no extra flat
Killaghy Castle gets the confident vote here with Twist Magic and Bob Hall rating the main dangers. The selection won with plenty in hand last time out when beating Briarius last time out that form has since been franked and under similar conditions here he will be hard to beat. Twist Magic rates the main danger as he appeared to have improved for a breathing operation when beating Royal Shakespeare last time out he gets all the weight for age allowances and should be noted in the market. Bob Hall also won well last time when beating Genghis but this looks tougher and his overall profile leaves him with a little to find. Jack The Giant is progressing with each run but this is his toughest assignment to date and his best form is on a faster surface. Rasharrow is another with plenty of ability but he lacks the scope of the selection Killaghy Castle who is taken to win again.
Priors Dale 5-4fav (11-11) Jumped well, made all, in command 3 out, kept on strongly, won at Kempton 2m nov chs (3) gs in Nov beating Pirate Flagship (11-11) by 5l, 4 ran.
Bob Hall (IRE) 6-4 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, led 3 out, clear 2 out, easily, won at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd beating Genghis (11-0) by 27l, 6 ran.
Rasharrow (IRE) 4-6fav (11-5) Made all, ridden after last, stayed on well, won at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Nov beating Altay (11-5) by 6l, 11 ran.
Royal Shakespeare (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 12th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 5, 3l behind Briareus (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd.
Jack The Giant (IRE) 5-6fav (11-1) Made virtually all, not fluent 3 out, clear approaching last, pushed out and flashed tail flat, won at Warwick 2m 4yo nov chs (3) gd in Nov beating Caribou (10-10) by 16l, 4 ran.
Twist Magic (FR) 9-4 (10-5) Jumped well, led after 1st, unchallenged, won at Fakenham 2m nov chs (3) gs beating Royal Shakespeare (11-2) by 24l, 6 ran.
Killaghy Castle (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 7th, led narrowly 2 out, kept on well run-in, won at Newbury 2m 1f beg chs (3) gs in Nov beating Briareus (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
