tracked leaders, driven and lost place before 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division on inside, headway before 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, kept on same pace, no impression
mid-division, chased leaders under pressure 4 out, lost place next, behind when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
behind, headway under pressure after 4 out, ridden 2 out, edged left and stayed on flat, went 3rd near finish, no impression
disputed lead until lost place 7th, soon behind, tailed off 3 out
mid-division in touch, headway 7th, chased leading pair 3 out, went 2nd next, soon ridden, kept on, no chance with winner
behind, headway into mid-division 3 out, never near leaders
mid-division, dropped towards rear and reminders 3rd, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
made most, drew clear approaching 3 out, stayed on strongly, easily
tracked leaders, driven approaching 3 out, disputed 2nd next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression when lost 3rd near finish
behind, headway into mid-division 3 out, never near leaders
mid-division in touch, chased leaders under pressure approaching 3 out, ridden next, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 3 out, weakened next
in touch, chased easy winner 4 out to before 2 out, soon weakened
with leaders, lost place 4 out, soon behind
always behind
mid-division, outpaced when not much room after 4 out, never on terms
mistake 1st, mid-division, blundered 7th, dropped towards rear 4 out, soon weakened, taild off
always towards rear
mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, never able to challenge
This looks incredibly difficult with experienced and in-form hurdlers, chasers having a run before reverting to the larger obstacles and interesting unexposed types in opposition. HIGHLAND VALLEY fits into the latter category for the Lavelle team that is going well at present and was thought good enough to contest a Grade 1 contest behind First Lieutenant at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The ground is a possible concern but he looks on a really good mark and could be one to follow this season. Los Nadis has turned into a cracking dual purpose sort for Jim Goldie and looks a potent threat. Robinson Collonges, third to Arthurian Legend at Chepstow last time, the unexposed Dynaste and Reindeer Dippin and the in-form Rival D'Estruval are all respected in a tremendous affair.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Led, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 36l behind Big Buck's (11-7) at Aintree 3m hdl G1 (1) gs in Apr.
Cape Tribulation 4-6fav (11-4) Led and set steady pace, joined by winner and clear 3 out, hard driven and narrow advantage flat, ridden and headed narrowly towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 5, nk behind Radium (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov chs (3) sft in Feb.
Sentry Duty (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, pushed along 8th, weakened from 9th, 9th of 11, well behind Big Buck's (11-7) at Aintree 3m hdl G1 (1) gs in Apr.
Synchronised (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) Mid-division on outside, not fluent 4th, outpaced after 10th, no impression after, plugged on flat, 7th of 14, 33l behind Rival D'estruval (10-0) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Buena Vista (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, lost place after 9th, weakened before next, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Paint The Clouds (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gf in Oct.
Benny Be Good 10-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, closed after 10th, ridden 3 out, one pace last, 4th of 14, 11l behind Rival D'estruval (10-0) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Sunnyhillboy (IRE) 6-1fav (10-6) Towards rear, rear of mid-division when hampered 4 out, good headway approaching straight, went 3rd after 2 out, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 25, 6l behind Organisedconfusion (9-13) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch gd in Apr.
Quartz de Thaix (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, hit 8th, headway approaching 3 out, weakening when stumbled 2 out, 4th of 10, 34l behind The Knoxs (10-8) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) sft.
Dynaste (FR) 7-1fav (11-7) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, chased winner until last, weakened flat, 6th of 17, 10l behind Skint (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f Novice Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4-7yo) (1) gd in Mar.
Across The Bay (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 10th, led approaching 3 out, driven last, headed flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Rival D'estruval (10-0) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Aibrean (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Towards rear, closed to chase leaders before straight where wide, no impression under pressure from before last, drifted left run-in, 6th of 10, 6l behind Pineau De Re (11-6) at Thurles 2m 6f hdl gd in Oct.
Robinson Collonges (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, hard ridden to challenge 2 out, stayed on well, never reached leaders, 3rd of 18, 5l behind Arthurian Legend (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Oct.
Los Nadis (GER) 4-1fav (10-8) Made all, drawing clear when not fluent 3 out, stayed on well, unchallenged, won at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Sep beating Snake Charmer (10-1) by 23l, 9 ran.
Sa Suffit (FR) 4-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden after last, kept on to chase winner run-in, always held, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Stagecoach Pearl (10-4) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gd.
Kayf Aramis 6-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 7th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 10, 37l behind The Knoxs (10-8) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) sft.
Global Power (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, chasing leader when mistake 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well, 2nd of 18, 2 1/2l behind Arthurian Legend (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Oct.
Reindeer Dippin 17-2 (11-12) Mid-division on inside, lost place approaching 6th, soon behind, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Rumble Of Thunder (11-5) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Highland Valley (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, soon driven and outpaced, weakened before last, 10th of 12, 25l behind First Lieutenant (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Rival D'Estruval (FR) 4-1fav (10-0) Held up in mid-division, mistake 10th, headway approaching 3 out, soon close up, led flat, ridden out, won at Aintree 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct beating Across The Bay (10-2) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
E Major 8-1 (11-2) Chased leadrs until outpaced and lost place 6th, rallied after 3 out, chasing leaders when blundered and stumbled badly 2 out, weakened after, went modest 4th last, 4th of 10, 15l behind King Of The Night (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
