held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, stayed on well under pressure to lead flat, kept on
mid-division, headway 3 out, led narrowly next, soon ridden and headed, kept on same pace under pressure approaching last, no extra flat
joined leader after 1st, led narrowly 3rd, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
held up behind, headway into mid-division 3 out, never reached leaders
held up towards rear, outpaced 5th, never on terms
led to after 1st, tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
raced wide in mid-division, headway and in touch 5th, led before 3 out, headed soon after, weakened before last
tracked leaders on inside, lost place 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
always behind
held up, always towards rear
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, challenged next, ridden and switched right between last 2, led narrowly last, edged right under pressure and headed flat, kept on same pace
raced keenly, held up in mid-division, headway and in touch 5th, challenged 3 out, soon led, headed briefly next, hit and headed last, ridden and kept on same pace flat
mid-division, outpaced when hit 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms
tracked leader, led narrowly after 1st, headed 3rd, with leader, led again briefly before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
mistake 1st, tracked leaders on inside, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
Cue Card is an obvious starting point in this Festival opener having found only leading Champion Hurdle fancy Menorah too good here in December. Winner of last year's Champion Bumper at this meeting, Colin Tizzard's five-year-old easily accounted for Dunraven Storm at the track in November and, through the runner-up, appears to have the measure of subsequent totesport Trophy winner Recession Proof. Zaidpour would be a danger on his best form and has had excuses for a couple of recent defeats. But Willie Mullins' charge will almost certainly improve when tackling fences and may find a couple of these too speedy for him today. Al Ferof probably needs further while the ground may prove too lively for the mare Magen's Star and the four-year-old Marsh Warbler also looks up against it. Nicky Henderson saddles a trio of runners and all have some sort of chance but the fact that Barry Geraghty has chosen SPIRIT SON ahead of Gibb River and Sprinter Sacre suggests he's the one to be on. The lightly-raced Poliglote gelding trounced previous easy winner Cedre Bleu at Exeter last month and looks a very smart performer in the making.
Al Ferof (FR) 1-4fav (11-8) Made all, hit 1st, good advantage 3rd, drew clear before 2 out, went right last, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Feb beating Oasis Knight (11-2) by 15l, 7 ran.
Cue Card 15-8 (11-4) Held up mainly in 3rd, smooth headway to challenge 2 out, led narrowly between last 2, ridden and headed before last, no impression with winner flat, stayed on under pressure, held on for 2nd near finish, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Menorah (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) gs in Dec.
Dunraven Storm (IRE) 1-2fav (11-8) Raced keenly, tracked leading pair, joined leader on inside 5th, every chance 3 out, kept on until driven and lost place between last 2, 3rd and beaten when not fluent last, lost 3rd near finish, last of 4, 18l behind Toubab (11-0) at Haydock 2m Listed nov hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Far Away So Close (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Close 2nd, challenged approaching 2 out, dropped to 6th entering straight, weakened, 8th of 10, 34l behind Oscars Well (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Gibb River (IRE) 1-9fav (11-12) Raced on outside, in touch, headway 5th, went 2nd soon after 3 out, led before next, clear after 2 out, easily, won at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Feb beating Sunley Peace (11-2) by 12l, 13 ran.
Hidden Universe (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Moderate 3rd, took closer order 4 out, close 2nd and challenged 2 out, disputed lead entering straight, headed and one pace from before last, 4th of 10, 11l behind Oscars Well (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Rathlin 15-8 (11-12) Chased leader in 2nd, led 5th, challenged 2 out, shaken up and asserted before last, kept on strongly, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m mdn hdl hvy beating Sicilian Secret (11-12) by 4l, 20 ran.
Recession Proof (FR) 12-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders on inside, headway 3 out, challenged last, ridden to lead narrowly flat, kept on well, just held on, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb beating Bothy (10-7) by shd, 15 ran.
Sheer Genius (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Mid-division, 8th halfway, headway in 4th when mistake and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Ghareer (10-0) at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 8Evens16 sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Spanish Treasure (GER) 5-2 (11-11) Tracked leader until after 3rd, remained prominent, ridden in 4th when not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 14, 36l behind Nobunaga (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Spirit Son (FR) 4-9fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, led on bit 2 out, soon clear, impressive, won at Exeter 2m 1f Listed nov hdl (1) sft in Feb beating Cedre Bleu (10-13) by 21l, 6 ran.
Sprinter Sacre (FR) 3-10fav (11-7) Pulled hard, soon chased leader, hit 4th, led 4 out, not fluent next, came clear from 2 out, easily, won at Ascot 2m nov hdl (2) sft in Feb beating Polisky (10-7) by 7l, 8 ran.
Zaidpour (FR) Evensfav (11-9) Held up, progress into 5th after 3 out, 6th and ridden after 2 out, 4th under pressure straight, moderate 2nd and kept on from last, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Oscars Well (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Magen's Star (IRE) 15-8fav (11-7) Made all, went clear after 2nd, soon extended advantage, in command from before straight, not fluent last 2, stayed on well, very easily, won at Clonmel 2m mrs nov hdl in Feb beating Stephanie Kate (11-6) by 15l, 17 ran.
Marsh Warbler 8-1 (11-0) Made most, headed briefly before 3 out, ridden after last, kept on strongly flat, won at Chepstow 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Jan beating Houblon Des Obeaux (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
