held up, mistake 3rd, headway next, pushed along and not fluent 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, held on for 3rd
held up in touch, headway approaching 3rd, chased winner from next, ridden approaching 2 out, not fluent last, kept on flat, gaining near finish
held up in rear, headway 4th, not fluent 4 out, hung left from next, no chance with leaders when mistake and unseated rider last
made all, jumped left from 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well flat, all out
tracked leader until approaching 4th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always behind, fell 4 out
held up, jumped slowly 2nd, behind when jumped right 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up and pulled hard, some headway after 4th, weakened after 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway when mistake 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, never dangerous
took keen hold, chased leaders until after 3rd, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, some headway approaching 4 out, never near leaders
The shortlist of Arcalis, Clear Thinking, Prins Willem, Sign Of The Wolf and The Persuader picks itself here, with the vote going to Clear Thinking. The former Andre Fabre inmate, Clear Thinking, has to be of interest on his hurdling debut as he has been placed several times in Group staying events and holds Cheltenham entries. The market should be checked beforehand, but he looks a very interesting recruit to this game. Arcalis has shown a very good level of form thus far over hurdles, winning twice and then finishing a 22-length fourth to Harchibald in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. That form stands out here and, good enough to win the John Smith's Cup on the Flat last summer, he looks set to go very well today. Prins Willem was a costly failure at Huntingdon last time but had earlier looked very promising when beating Salsalino at the same track. The French raider, Sign Of The Wolf, is also one to pay close attention to as he has proven good enough to win six times on the Flat, while The Persuader won four times on the Flat in 2003 and is an interesting recruit from the Paul Nicholls stable. However, his highest winning rating on the Flat was 75 which leads us to prefer others, and of these it was a close call between Arcalis and Clear Thinking, with the latter getting the nod.
Arcalis 15-2 Held up well off the pace, not fluent 3rd, went 25 lengths 2nd after 3 out, weakened and mistake 2 out, 4th of 7, 22l behind Harchibald at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Prins Willem (IRE) 4-7fav Held up in touch, headway approaching 5th, ridden and every chance from 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Voy Por Ustedes at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Jan.
Bel Ombre (FR) 100-1 Held up, never dangerous, tailed off from 3 out, 9th of 12, well behind Rubberdubber at Newbury 2m nov hdl (B) gs in Dec.
Clear Thinking 25-1 In touch until weakened quickly 3f out, last of 8, 32l behind Westerner at Longchamp 2m 4f Grp 1 gd in Oct (Flat).
Crown Agent (IRE) 15-2 Held up, headway over 6f out, chased the leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Peak Of Perfection at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn aut stk (E) pol in Jun (Flat).
Hired Gun (IRE) 20-1 Always behind, 11th of 16, 46l behind Honan at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (H) gd in Apr.
Mac's Elan 8-1 Held up, some headway over 2f out, never near leaders, 7th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Flaming Eyes at W'hampton 1m 4f mdn stk (D3) pol in Dec (Flat).
Magnesium (USA) One pace final 2f, 6th of 10, 4l behind Shakis at Chantilly 1m 2f stk gs in Sept (Flat).
Sign Of The Wolf Led 2f out, stayed on strongly, won at Pau 1m 1f stk hvy in Jan beating Mi Coronel by 1/2l, 8 ran (Flat).
Stunning Magic 50-1 Raced freely, led and soon clear, headed well over 4f out, weakened rapidly, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Broughton Knows at Lingfield 1m 4f stk (H) pol in Jan '04 (Flat).
The Persuader (IRE) 8-1 Chased leaders, pushed along 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 13th of 15, 24l behind My Legal Eagle at Newbury 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (E) gf in Jun (Flat).
