led and jumped left throughout, ridden and quickened clear bend approaching 2 out, jumped badly left 2 out and last, blundered last, hard ridden and ran on well flat
prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression
prominenent, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, challenged and every chance last, ran on same pace flat
pulled hard and chased leader, mistake 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, no chance with leaders
held up towards rear, lost touch 3rd, ridden 3 out, tailed off
held up last, ridden after 3 out, one pace
held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
This race often has a bearing on the Champion Hurdle and this year's line-up is a good one, with Inglis Drever getting the call ahead of Royal Shakespeare and Rigmarole. The Howard Johnson-trained selection teams up with Tony McCoy today in a bid to enhance his Cheltenham aspirations. A useful novice last season, this time around he has been runner-up in both the Fighting Fifth and Bula Hurdles before getting back to winning ways in Haydock's Champion Hurdle Trial last time. He seems to be getting better as the season goes on and looks the one to beat today. Rigmarole, who is by two pounds the highest-rated runner in the field, did very well last season, his victories including success in this race. Much as he returned with a win this year, he has since been disappointing, and the jury is now out on him, unless connections have suddenly refound the key to him. With a Grade 2 win and a Grade 1 placed effort to his name last season, Royal Shakespeare also proved himself a very useful novice. Much as he has not fully clicked into gear this time around, his winning form last year came from February onwards and, with the track likely to suit, he can go well. Of the remainder, Perouse is decent but is held by Inglis Drever and Royal Shakespeare on Fighting Fifth form, while the others need to find quite a bit of improvement to win. Once again, then, we return to the selection which is Inglis Drever.
Inglis Drever 4-5fav Held up, headway approaching 4 out, ridden to chase leader approaching 3 out, led after last, pushed clear flat, won at Haydock 2m hdl Grd 2 (A) hvy in Jan beating Mister McGoldrick by 8l, 7 ran.
Rigmarole 11-1 Towards rear and keen, headway 4th, ridden after 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 8, 28l behind Harchibald at Newcastle 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Nov.
Perouse 14-1 Not fluent, held up, stayed on to go poor 3rd and mistake 2 out, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 7, 22l behind Harchibald at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Royal Shakespeare (FR) 7-2 Took keen hold, held up, ridden after 3 out, one pace before next, 4th of 6, 6l behind Self Defense at Sandown 2m lst hdl (A) gs.
Barton Nic 4-5fav Held up last, not going well and struggling from 7th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by The Leader at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs in Jan, 5 ran.
Torrid Kentavr (USA) 25-1 Towards rear, headway 3 out, chased winner before last, always held run-in, 2nd of 21, 3 1/2l behind Crossbow Creek at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Jan.
Voy Por Ustedes (FR) 4-1 Held up, headway 4th, led 3 out, ridden and ran on flat, won at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Jan beating Prins Willem by 2l, 11 ran.
