patiently ridden and held up behind, smooth headway approaching 3 out, led on bit after last, readily
tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden approaching next, headed after last, kept on
held up in rear, headway 5th, pushed along next, soon outpaced, kept on but no impression from next
tracked leader, led approaching 4th, headed 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
towards rear, and keen, headway 4th, ridden after 4 out, weakened next
held up in touch, took keen hold early, went 2nd 3 out, challenging when blundered 2 out, kept on same pace from last
led, headed approaching 4th, quickly lost place
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, outpaced approaching 5th
A vintage renewal of the Fighting Fifth, in which Harchibald is taken to score from Inglis Drever, Intersky Falcon and Royal Shakespeare. Harchibald has been a revelation this season and landed the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown from Back In Front and Mac's Joy last time out. The manner of his victory left a big impression and he can build on that here in race that will have a huge bearing on the Champion Hurdle market. Inglis Drever was a very useful novice last season and now steps up to the big league. His runner-up spot behind Fundamentalist in the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle rates as excellent form and he met with poor luck in running at Aintree when last seen. He rates an interesting prospect. Royal Shakespeare rounded off his novice season in good style, winning at Aintree and finishing second at Punchestown, while this year's Champion Hurdle third, Intersky Falcon, needs little introduction and commands a lot of respect at this level. The French Furze is also afforded consideration having won this race last year and having also returned for the season to score at Ayr. This is tougher, though, and he might just become a sitting duck for his rivals. With Rigmarole seemingly having gone off the boil and Perouse much less-favourably weighted here than when scoring in the Elite Hurdle, the wheel spins us back to Harchibald, who can land the Fighting Fifth.
