tracked leader, led 5th, made rest, in command 2 out, eased near finish
not jumped well, led, blundered 4th, headed next, jumped slowly and droped 7th, not run on after, left poor 3rd 10th, continued, tailed off
pulled hard, behind leaders, 3rd when unseated rider 10th
tracked leader, chased winner from 6th, mistake 11th, challenege 3 out, held before next
An interesting four-runner affair in which Iris Royal gets our vote ahead of Zafarabad. Course winner Iris Royal holds a Paddy Power Gold Cup entry and comes here rated 128 following a couple of novice chase successes last season. That's comparable with what he achieved over hurdles and, if fit on his first run since April, should go well. In time, his best trip might prove further than this and he could well have a good season. Zafarabad won a valuable Kempton chase in October of last year from a mark of 135. Given that he is now rated 128, he has to hold a chance. The downside is that he has shown little since then, although his first run of the season, in that same Kempton chase, suggested he could go well next time. He has to be considered. Mersey Beat was raised 10 pounds for a Newton Abbot handicap success but was then only just beaten from that revised mark at Plumpton. His rating fits in well with what he achieved over hurdles so he will have his supporters, although he has not raced for 406 days. Wise King is a course and distance winner and this 13-year-old turned back the clock to win at Wincanton last season from a mark of 110. Much as he is well-handicapped on his 1999 form and connections did brilliantly to get that win last year from him, we prefer others today. And of these, we'll side with the progressive Iris Royal.
