led until after 1st, tracked winner, ridden approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out, one-paced
held up last, headway approaching 9th, ridden to go 4th 3 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, 3rd and ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on to 2nd approaching last, not troubled winner
jumped right throughout, led after 1st, headed briefly 7th, drew clear approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly, ridden out
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 6th, led briefly 7th, ridden approaching 9th, chased winner and one-paced from 3 out
towards rear on outer, not fluent 6th, soon behind
held up, ridden and slightly outpaced approaching 4 out, stayed on flat
prominent until 4th, weakened after 8th
The way that Brother Joe Wetherby's John Smith's Hurdle at the beginning of the month, beating former winner Boss Doyle by 15 lengths suggests that the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding will take some being in the top staying hurdle events this season. The runner-up is 8lbs better off here but should not reverse the form with the eight-year-old who is the obvious TEAMtalk selection. The opposition here is stronger than at Wetherby as the line up includes, amongst others, Nicky Henderson's Bacchanal. The Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle winner of 2000 has been campaigned over fences in the main since then and was found wanting when last seen over timber behind Baracouda at Sandown's Finale meeting. While it would be foolish to dismiss him entirely, Nicky Henderson's gelding is likely to be using this to put him straight for future engagements. A similar comment applies to former Grand National winner Red Marauder and bigger dangers to the selection are likely to be Jonjo O'Neill's improving Native Emperor,an impressive winner in handicap company at Cheltenham's Open meeting, and Martin Pipe's Deano's Beeno who has been lightly raced in recent seasons but has won this twice before.
