raced keenly, led to 5th, not fluent and lost place next, chased winner after 4 out, ridden and no impression when blundered last
tracked leader, led 5th, made rest, ridden clear after 2 out, comfortably
held up, chased winner 6th, stumbled and lost place after 4 out, one pace from next
Rookery Lad is bound to be popular with backers looking for a third successive win but he has yet to prove as effective under ground this testing and a safer bet looks to be Key Phil, with Vigoureux looking to face a difficult task from out of the weights. Vigoureux has gone well on a soft surface before and is probably better with plenty of cut in the ground but he has yet to prove himself over this far and has to race from 6lbs out of the weights proper. Top weight Key Phil would have obvious claims on the form shown when successful at Huntingdon earlier this month and while David Wintle's gelding was well held off this mark subsequently, that was over a much longer trip; he may well be worth chancing back under his optimum conditions today.
Key Phil (FR) 7-1 (11-7) With leader and keen, led 9th, joined when bad mistake 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Zaffamore (10-6) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Rookery Lad 4-1 (10-11) With leaders, led 4th, clear approaching last, ran on strongly, won at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Karo De Vindecy (10-3) by 7l, 9 ran.
Vigoureux (FR) 40-1 (10-0) Prominent to 9th, soon struggling, 9th of 10, well behind Polar Gunner (10-9) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Apr.
