held up in touch and keen, headway approaching 4th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra
held up in touch, headway approaching 4th, joined leader approaching 2 out, led approaching last, soon clear
led untill 4th, in touch untill after 3 out
held up in touch, not fluent 3 out, chased leaders next, soon ridden, kept on but not pace of leading pair
held up, headway approaching 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up, headway after 3 out, hit 2 out, no impression after
chased leader, led after 4th, ridden and headed after 3 out weakened
In a race that is often a very good guide to the outcome of the Champion Hurdle, Intersky Falcon gets the call here over Rigmarole. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained selection went to Cheltenham with high hopes last season but ran, by his standards, modestly. He's been given a lighter campaign this time around but looks as good as ever, winning a Grade 1 event in Tipperary and, last time out, landing Kempton's Christmas Hurdle from Rooster Booster. Hold up tactics were used to good effect that day and may well be employed again as he bids to emulate his stable companion Rhinestone Cowboy, who won this race last year. Rigmarole has been a revelation this season since getting beaten here in November. Two good wins at Cheltenham now see him rated just five pounds behind the selection. Best of the rest looks to be the course and distance winner Perouse, who was just beaten by Limerick Boy in a valuable handicap at Kempton last time. Overall, though, Intersky Falcon gets the vote.
