led, ridden clear after 4 out, jumped left 3 out, kept on from 2 out, not fluent last, headed close home
held up in mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, headway after 9th, every chance when blundered 4 out, soon ridden, no impression after
prominent, ridden and chased leaders 4 out, soon no chance
held up in mid-division, ridden and effort 4 out, weakened 2 out
prominent, ridden 4 out, one pace when jumped right 3 out, no chance after
held up towards rear, ridden and headway to chase leader after 4 out, challenged 3 out, pecked 2 out, hard driven when pecked badly last, ran on well from last, led close home
held up in mid-division, ridden and effort 4 out, stayed on one pace
slowly into stride and always behind, no impression
Nonrunner
In what is another very tricky contest Pearl King is just preferred here to Lorient Express and Handy Money. The Phillip Hobbs trained four-year-old returned to winning ways in great style at Leicester last time out. He just had to be pushed out to be Articulation by two and a half lengths. There was a lot left in the tank and a follow up victory looks on the cards. Handy Money is not the most consistent runner in the line up but has claims on his seasonal reappearance run and has to be rated a danger. Lorient Express was a bit disappointing on his return at Wetherby in October, but if back to the form of last season he could cause our selection plenty of problems. East tycoon is another capable on his day, but on this occasion we will side with Pearl King.
Palua 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, hit 10th, weakened next, 5th of 6, 44l behind Crossbow Creek (11-12) at Ascot 2m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gf in Oct.
Marked Man (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Held up, hit 5th, short lived effort approaching 3 out, 6th of 10, 27l behind Kalca Mome (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft.
Lorient Express (FR) 9-4 (11-6) Held up, headway 6th, tracked leading pair 5 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 5, well behind Calatagan (11-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Handy Money 12-1 (10-9) Held up, hampered 1st, headway 10th, 5th and no chance when hit last, 7th of 12, 28l behind Jericho III (11-2) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd.
Roofing Spirit (IRE) 9-1 (10-2) In touch, hit 9th, chased leaders 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 5th of 9, 16l behind Saintsaire (10-11) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Carthys Cross (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Prominent, jumped right 3 out, soon ridden, weakened flat, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Ease The Way (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nov chs (3) gs.
Pearl King (IRE) 6-4fav (10-7) Held up, mistake 4th, left 2nd 7th, led after 2 out, pushed out, won at Leicester 2m nov chs (3) gs in Nov beating Articulation (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Smoke Trail (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Led 1st, not fluent and headed 2nd, ridden 8th, weakened next, 3rd of 4, 39l behind Pablo Du Charmil (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (4) gf in Nov.
Jupon Vert (FR) 10-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, went 2nd after 5th until next, ridden to chase winner again approaching 2 out, stayed on, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Misty Dancer (11-5) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
East Tycoon (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, weakened next, last of 8, 38l behind Misty Dancer (11-5) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
