chased leaders on inside, not fluent 3rd, disputing 2nd 4 out, ridden after 2 out, beaten last, stayed on same pace flat
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway approaching 3 out, shaken up before 2 out, lacked pace to get on terms with leaders, 5th and no impression last, no extra final 100 yards
held up in rear, took keen hold, pushed along bend before 3 out, no impression and soon well held, behind when pulled up before last
chased leaders, disputing 2nd 4 out, mistake 3 out, ridden and not pace of front pair last, stayed on same pace flat
pressed leader, narrow leader 1st, clear before 4th until 4 out, pushed along after 3 out, driven after next, joined last, headed flat, went 1/2 length down, stayed on, just held
held up in mid-division, awkward 2nd, headway on outside after 4 out, shaken up 3 out, soon beaten, well held 2 out
mid-division on inside, took keen hold, headway going well before 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, led flat, went 1/2 length ahead, pushed out towards finish to hold on
led until 1st, tracked leader, not fluent 5th, losing place when hampered on inside after 4 out, soon weakened
held up in rear on outside, pushed along before 3 out, soon well beaten
Nicky Henderson won this for the second time last year and runs two today but it’s difficult to see Adjali reversing Triumph Hurdle form with the less-exposed Pentland Hills. Fakir D'Oudairies started joint favourite for the Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham and finished an honourable fourth against older horses. He’s a smart juvenile but so is stablemate BAND OF OUTLAWS (NAP) judged by the manner of his victory under a big weight in the Fred Winter. Always travelling on the bridle, he had to be switched to get a run approaching the final flight but showed an impressive turn of foot to hit the front and won with plenty in hand – fifth Fanfan Du Seuil is worse off at the weights. Christopher Wood puts his unbeaten record on the line but takes a massive step up in class and Song For Someone has been beaten at tracks like Ludlow and Fakenham. Beat The Judge ran well in a Grade 2 at Kempton last time but an earlier win at the same track hasn’t worked out.
Adjali (GER) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, driven and effort turning in, ridden and outpaced before last, weakened flat, 7th of 14, 13 3/4l behind Pentland Hills (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gs in Mar.
Band of Outlaws (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Held up rear of mid-division, headway going well from 5th, hampered and switched right before last, led flat, quickened up well, decisively, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar beating Coko Beach (11-3) by 2l, 21 ran.
Beat The Judge (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division on inside, headway approaching 3 switched out before next, edged right between last 2, kept on into 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 9l behind Fusil Raffles (10-12) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Christopher Wood (IRE) 6-5fav (11-4) Raced keenly, tracked leading pair, tracked clear leader after 4 out, closed after 2 out, led and switched right to rail run-in, soon clear, easily, won at Newbury 2m (4) gs in Mar beating Zizaneur (11-4) by 8l, 9 ran.
Fakir D'Oudairies (FR) 9-2jfav (10-13) Tracked leaders on inside, driven and outpaced 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, stayed on under pressure flat, snatched well held 4th final strides, 4th of 16, 11l behind Klassical Dream (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Fanfan Du Seuil (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway on outside after 5th, not clear run before last, soon switched left, kept on but held by leaders flat, 5th of 21, 6 3/4l behind Band of Outlaws (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Pentland Hills (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Blundered 1st, hampered after 4th, headway on inside after 2 out, not clear run turning in, challenged going well before last, ridden to lead flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gs in Mar beating Coeur Sublime (11-0) by 3l, 14 ran.
Song For Someone (GER) 11-4 (11-10) Made all, bumped 1st, 3 lengths ahead last, kept on strongly, won at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Feb beating Idilico (11-4) by 3l, 15 ran.
Statuario 4-1 (10-7) Always chasing winner, not fluent 3 out, shaken up after 2 out, no impression when not fluent last, 2nd of 8, 8l behind West To The Bridge (11-7) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (4) sft in Mar.
