held up, chased leaders 3 out, ridden after next, mistake when weakening last
soon chasing leaders, led approaching 2 out, ridden clear flat
chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened from last
led, headed when mistake 2 out, soon outpaced, no extra towards finish
chased leaders, weakened after 3 out
held up in touch, weakened last
chased leader, quickly lost place 3 out
The short list for the Champion Hurdle Trial contains Arcalis, Afsoun and Mounthenry, with the verdict given to Afsoun. Last season's Champion Hurdle fifth, Arcalis, won the 2005 Fighting Fifth Hurdle on soft and has shown of late that he does retain ability. Nicky Henderson's Afsoun impressed with his Newbury winning return this season but then fell at Kempton. However, such was the impression that he left at Newbury that he might well provide the answer to today's race. A return to hurdling brought a good effort from Mounthenry in a Grade 2 hurdle last time and that puts him in with a shout. Following a valuable Sandown handicap win, Overstrand was disappointing at Ascot last time from his revised mark. Despite his advancing years, The French Furze still retains plenty of ability, Mister McGoldrick would certainly hold claims based on his hurdling form of a year ago, but Torkinking has a bit to find at today's weights. Once again, then, the selection is Afsoun.
Arcalis 16-1 (11-8) Tracked leading pair, ridden approaching last, not quicken, lost 3rd run-in, last of 4, 12l behind Detroit City (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec.
Afsoun (FR) 11-2 (11-7) Led 2nd, clear 4th, 2 lengths clear when fell 4 out in race won by Jazz Messenger (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Mounthenry (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) Held up, progress 5 out, 3rd next, closed on leaders approaching 2 out, no extra before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Celestial Wave (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Dec.
Overstrand (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Towards rear, reminders 5th, headway to go in touch soon after, weakening when hit 3 out, 14th of 20, 29l behind Acambo (11-9) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Dec.
The French Furze (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Led, ridden and hit 2 out, soon headed, driven and no impression approaching last, tired and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 4, 8l behind Flight Leader (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) hvy.
Milligan (FR) 66-1 (11-4) Raced wide, tracked leader, hit 7th, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened after next, tailed off, last of 4, well behind Flight Leader (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) hvy.
Mister McGoldrick 13-2 (11-12) Moderate 3rd, mistake 1st, slight mistake 4th, ridden and lost place 4 out, trailing after 2 out, 4th of 6, 33l behind Nickname (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f chs Grd 1 (1) hvy in Dec.
Torkinking (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Led after 1st, made rest, ridden and stayed on strongly from last, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl (2) hvy beating Magic Sky (10-11) by 10l, 7 ran.
