tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, no chance with winner
held up, headway approaching 4 out, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, clear flat, eased towards finish
tracked leader, mistake 4th, lost place next
held up in rear, weakened from 4 out
led, headed approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up, headway 4 out, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakening when hit last
was always behind, tailed off from 4 out
was always behind, tailed off
prominent, joined leaders and going well when fell 4 out
held up in touch, hampered after 4 out, soon ridden, weakened next
The Festival Bumper at Cheltenham is often a reliable source for future winners over hurdles and it will be surprise if Trabolgan cannot confirm his superiority over Bold Bishop and Bourbon Manhattan. The selection kept on well up the Cheltenham hill to be beaten just half-a-length by Liberman in the Grade 1 contest and is an exciting recruit to the novice hurdling ranks. Bold Bishop was only one-and-a-half lengths adrift of the second that day and cannot be dismissed entirely on his hurdling debut but his overall bumper form does not match that of the selection. Bourbon Manhattan disappointed at Prestbury Park and has to be respected. Martin Pipe's Wyn Dixie appeals most of those to have run previously over hurdles, although Make Haste Slowly ran with credit on his debut a year ago and is unexposed. However, Trabolgan is potentially out of the top drawer and gets the vote.
