made all, not fluent 5th, mistake 2 out, clear last, driven out
with winner until after 2nd, prominent, mistake 7th, jumped right 2 out, mistake last, weakened flat
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, not much room 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, demoted to 3rd towards finish
took keen hold, prominent from 3rd, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
held up in touch in last, mistakes 5th and 3 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
This used to be a decent Cheltenham trial but its importance has diminished in recent years. Easter Day is probably the form pick on his second to Taquin De Seuil in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December. But he won't find it easy giving 8lb to KILMURVY, who has a decent record himself. He got bogged down under a big weight in the mud at Exeter last time but this easier track should suit as he'd won twice at Taunton previously. Nataani is better known as a chaser and would probably prefer a stiffer test while Dunlough Bay looks held by Easter Day on a line through Taquin De Seuil. Sir Pitt was fifth in the 2011 Triumph Hurdle but that was his last run before injury and he'll surely need this.
Easter Day (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Chased leader, led before 2 out, driven after 2 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace and no impression flat, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Taquin Du Seuil (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) hvy in Dec.
Dunlough Bay (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Led, blundered 4th, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, well behind Taquin Du Seuil (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Dec.
Kilmurvy (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on to one pace 4th next, mistake last, 4th of 15, 25l behind Many Clouds (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy.
Nataani (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) In rear, headway before 5 out, one pace and no impression, 6th of 16, 15l behind Court By Surprise (10-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Dec.
Sir Pitt 200-1 (11-0) Mid-division on outside, headway and effort to challenge 2 out, soon ridden, one pace approaching last, no extra flat, 5th of 23, 8l behind Zarkandar (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar '11.
