made all, jumped well, shaken up before 4 out, strongly pressed 4 out, ridden before 3 out, still in narrow lead last, kept on well run-in
held up in rear, in touch, hit 11th, tracked leader before 12th, strongly pressed winner from 4 out, ridden before 2 out, ran on well but always held
tracked leader, not fluent 1st or 2nd, hit 10th and dropped to close last, pushed along before 4 out, weakened quickly 3 out
chased front pair, close up in 3rd before 4 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out
Roi De Dubai has yet to finish out of the frame over fences, winning twice, but the 10-year-old lacks the scope of his three rivals. Kiltealy Briggs was up against two smart novices in a Grade 1 at Kempton on Boxing Day but did beat a subsequent winner at Haydock before that. Friend Or Foe made a winning debut over fences last may but was only third at Warwick in September and hasn’t run since. PAY THE PIPER has yet to run a bad race since switched to fences and can get his back in front having just come up short at Wetherby over Christmas when giving the winner 6lb.
Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, going well enough before 3 out, went 3rd 3 out, found little before next, 3rd of 4, 17 1/2l behind Bravemansgame (11-7) at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Pay The Piper (IRE) 11-10fav (11-8) Tracked winner, every chance when pecked on landing 2 out, ridden to lead narrowly at next, headed close home, 2nd of 4, nk behind Midnight River (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Roi De Dubai (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Led, headed after 3 out, no extra when jumped left 2 out, last of 3, 29l behind Does He Know (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct.
Friend Or Foe (FR) 5-2 (11-8) Led, pushed along and headed 2 out, led again narrowly next, soon headed, stayed on, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Beyond The Clouds (11-2) at Warwick 2m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
