chased leaders, left in lead 2nd, jumped right 5th, headed 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off when fell next
held up, smooth headway approaching 4 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, ridden out
chased clear leader, badly hampered and unseated rider 2nd
held up, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, no impression from next
led, soon clear, tried to refuse and unseated rider 2nd
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up, left chasing leaders after 2nd, joined leader 8th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, fell last, remounted, continued
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden after next, chased winner after last, ran on
held up towards rear, left chasing leaders after 2nd, led 8th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened after last
In the absence of World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever, who is set to contest Saturday's Aintree Hurdle, Rule Supreme is taken to confirm Cheltenham superiority over Westender and Korelo. The selection has mixed hurdling with chasing this term to some effect and lost no caste in defeat behind Inglis Drever and Baracouda at Cheltenham on ground that was probably faster than ideal. Today's softer surface should suit the son of Supreme Leader ideally and the Willie Mullins-trained gelding is expected to give weight away to his main rivals. Westender is 4lbs better in at the weights with the selection for two lengths on their running at Cheltenham but he always shows his best form at Prestbury Park, while Korelo has a similar pull in the weights but needs to improve to be involved. Idole First and Dancing Bay filled the first two places in the Coral Cup at the festival and have to be respected but face a stiffer assignment in this Grade 2 contest and of more interest may be the Nicky Richards-trained Monet's Garden. The son of Roselier missed Cheltenham in favour of a crack at this and having run the useful Crystal d'Ainay to three-and-a-half lengths in the Rendlesham is entitled to be thereabouts under ground conditions that suit. Rule Supreme holds an obvious chance though and he gets the vote.
Gralmano (IRE) 150-1 Always behind, 8th of 10, well behind Iris's Gift at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar '04.
Monet's Garden (IRE) 11-2 Not fluent, held up last, effort 9th, mistake and outpaced after next, driven and stayed on approaching 2 out, not reach winner, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Crystal d'Ainay at Kempton 3m hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb.
Rule Supreme (IRE) 4-1 Held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, every chance last, stayed on flat, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Inglis Drever at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Idole First (IRE) 33-1 Mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, led flat, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar beating Dancing Bay by 5l, 29 ran.
Westender (FR) 33-1 Chased leader from 2nd, led approaching 7th, clear approaching next, ridden and edged left approaching last, soon headed, no extra flat, 4th of 12, 6l behind Inglis Drever at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Dancing Bay 14-1 Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden and every chance last, chased winner flat, stayed on, 2nd of 29, 5l behind Idole First at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Korelo (FR) 14-1 Held up and behind, ridden after 3 out, jumped left 2 out, stayed on approaching last, never near leaders, 5th of 12, 13l behind Inglis Drever at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Mr Ed (IRE) 7-1 Chased leaders until weakened and lost place before 4 out, 7th of 11, 31l behind The Dark Lord at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Nov.
Tumbling Dice (IRE) 16-1 Chased leaders, mistake 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, hung left and left in lead 2 out, headed and no extra flat, 3rd of 29, 11l behind Idole First at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
