held up in mid-division, good headway to chase leaders 3 out, ridden and challenged 2 out, switched left and every chance approaching last, hard ridden flat, ran on but not pace of winner
chased leader to 2nd, ridden 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
prominent, ridden 5th, soon weakened
chased leader, led 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, hard ridden, ran on gamely flat, all out
led, clear 3rd, headed 5th, soon ridden and weakened
chased leader, ridden 5th, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and weakened 4th, pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear, ridden after 3 out, weakening when fell 2 out
prominent, headway and chased leader 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out
Hail The King is taken to repeat last year's success in this event, with Royal Prodigy, Hunting Lodge and Avesomeofthat the ones to give him most to do. Officially rated 95 when scoring under today's pilot 12 months ago, Hail The King is now seven-pounds higher as he bids to add to that sole career success. He failed to see out the trip at Taunton just over a fortnight ago and will be much more at home here despite having to give weight away all round. Royal Prodigy is likely to try and make all the running as he did on his last outing 11 months ago. He too ran out of steam over further and will appreciate the drop back in trip, but his absence will count against him. Hunting Lodge is only moderate as are Avesomeofthat and Alf Lauren, and in a race that is there for the taking, Hail The King has more going for him than most.
Hail The King (USA) 10-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Businessmoney Jake (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Alf Lauren 40-1 (10-9) Behind, mistake 4th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Nobody Tells Me (11-2) at Newbury 2m 5f mdn hdl (3) gd in Mar, 20 ran.
Hunting Lodge (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Always behind, 9th of 11, 22l behind Upright Ima (9-13) at Warwick 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Avesomeofthat (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, mistake 4th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well from last, 5th of 18, 4 1/2l behind Lorient Express (10-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Royal Prodigy (USA) 5-2fav (11-4) Made most until ridden and headed after 8th, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 26l behind Somewin (9-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gf in May.
Tytheknot 50-1 (10-3) Held up, headway after 5th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 10, well behind Candarli (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Heriot 33-1 (10-7) In touch, ridden 5th, weakened next, 10th of 16, well behind Tinstre (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gf in May.
Carpet Ride 13-2 (10-6) Mid-division, headway to lead 4th, headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 14, 28l behind Quotable (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf.
