held up, mistake 6th, headway 9th, weakened after next, no chance when blundered badly 3 out, rider lost iron, soon pulled up
led to 2nd, led 4th, not fluent 9th, ridden after next, headed last, drifted left flat, stayed on
held up in touch, hit 6th, weakened after 10th
took keen hold, prominent, steadied 4th, weakened 10th
prominent, mistake 6th, ridden when not fluent 8th, stayed on same pace approaching last
with leader, led 2nd to 4th, remained prominent, hit 7th, challenged 2 out, led last, driven out
prominent, chased leader 6th until after 10th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out
held up in rear, headway 3rd, lost place 9th, in rear after
in rear, headway 10th, slightly outpaced approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 10th, ridden when switched right after 2 out, 3 lengths 3rd when mistake last, no extra
prominent, lost place approaching 8th, well behind when blundered badly 2 out
held up in last, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakening in 5th when mistake last
Tazbar should justify his trainer's decision to boycott Cheltenham and confirm himself as one of the best staying hurdlers in training. Cheltenham form is well represented but it would be no surprise to see Souffleur emerge as the principal threat. The selection has looked a class act in his four starts this year and has jumped well from day one as his quarter of a length debut defeat by Lightning Strike over an inadequate two miles testifies. He was also good enough to beat Whiteoak at around the minimum but staying is his game and he can justify favouritism here. This track may not play to the strengths of Gone To Lunch and Nenuphar Collonges but Middleton Dene and The Tother One should be capable of getting into the mix again with the Nicholls runner having the strongest claims. Quickbeam shouldn't be underestimated as he's progressing at a rate of knots but Souffleur already has the form in the book and has to be feared. He was found to be coughing in January and flopped again next time but he looked back to his best on the level last month and his form in the first half of the season entitles him to be a leading player here. He's also unbeaten on the track but Tazbar is expected to end that record today.
Bulwark (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, chased winner throughout, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Pop (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Gone To Lunch (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake and dropped rear 9th, staying on approaching last, kept on well flat, 5th of 18, 6l behind Nenuphar Collonges (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Logans Run (IRE) 4-11fav (11-4) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance 2 out, driven and all out flat to dead heat post, awarded race, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb deadheating with Raysrock (11-4), 8 ran.
Middleton Dene (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 8th, in touch 2 out, one pace before last, 6th of 18, 7l behind Nenuphar Collonges (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Nenuphar Collonges (FR) 9-1 (11-7) In touch, reminder 6th, outpaced 2 out, rallied last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar beating Liskennett (11-0) by 3l, 18 ran.
Pettifour (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Always prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, led after 2 out, stayed on, won at Newbury 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating The Jazz Musician (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 18 ran.
Quickbeam (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (11-7) Made all, mistake 6th, shaken up approaching 2 out, ran on, won at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Soixante (11-1) by 7l, 11 ran.
Souffleur 7-2 (11-11) Behind, mistake 4 out, never dangerous, 4th of 7, well behind Tazbar (11-11) at Haydock 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Sound Accord (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, pushed along 8th, effort after 2 out, weakened approaching last, 8th of 18, 15l behind Nenuphar Collonges (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Tazbar (IRE) 5-4fav (11-11) Held up, headway 7th, led approaching last, ran on well, won at Haydock 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb beating Sound Accord (11-8) by 12l, 7 ran.
The Tother One (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, led before 2 out, ridden last, swerved left and hung right, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 18, 3 1/2l behind Nenuphar Collonges (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Bonnie Rock (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (11-2) Close up on inside, headway to lead before 3 out, ridden clear last, eased near finish, won at Newcastle 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar beating Mini Minster (10-9) by 1l, 11 ran.
La Vecchia Scuola (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st or 2nd, losing place when hampered 5th, behind when mistake 7th, 9th of 13, 17l behind Whiteoak (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Mar.
