held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, ridden and weakened from last
chased leaders, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place 5th, mid-division when fell 4 out
close up, led after 1st, headed 2nd, tracked leaders, lost place 4 out
led after 2nd, hit 3 out, ridden and headed last, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden to lead last, kept on and headed towards finish
close up, took keen hold, led briefly after 2nd, remained with leader, every chance 2 out, hit last, no extra
held up mid-division, ridden after 4 out, one pace and no impression
held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, ridden before last, one pace
held up towards rear, mistake 4 out, headway before 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on to lead towards finish
led, jumped slow and headed 1st, behind after 3rd, soon tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden and some headway from 2 out, weakened last
tracked leaders 3rd, went 2nd after 4 out, one pace before last
Calipto was sent off a marginal favourite for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham but didn't enjoy much luck. After being hampered by a faller, his stirrup leather broke when he had every chance turning for home and Daryl Jacob couldn't ride out a finish. It would be no surprise if the Paul Nicholls gelding reversed that form with Guitar Pete and he should again beat Broughton but may find ACTIVIAL a tougher prospect this time around. Calipto beat Harry Fry's charge at Newbury in December but the latter stepped up on that effort when easily beating Commissioned in a Grade 2 at Kempton and may have the greater scope. Fox Norton, another Grade 2 winner, is also interesting while Hawk High won the Fred Winter at The Festival when Baradari, Handiwork and Violet Dancer were all behind. Clarcam was leading when falling two out, however, and would have place prospects with a clear round.
Activial (FR) 9-4fav (10-12) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd travelling well soon after 2 out, led between last 2, ridden and stayed on strongly to forge clear flat, won at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Commissioned (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Agreement (IRE) 2-1 (10-7) Prominent early, tracked leaders, lost place 4th, closed from 5th, led approaching last, soon headed, led again at hurdle, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 4yo hdl (3) gs in Mar beating Mandy's Boy (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Baradari (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway from 2 out, ran on well flat, going on towards finish, 5th of 24, 5l behind Hawk High (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Mar.
Broughton (GER) 13-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear on inside, headway after 3 out, outpaced after next, soon no impression, 8th of 15, 25l behind Tiger Roll (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Calipto (FR) 11-2fav (11-0) Mid-division, hampered 2nd, tracked leaders 5th, in touch when stirrup leather broke and rider lost irons approaching 2 out, ridden and tried to challenge before last, soon no impression, 4th of 15, 9l behind Tiger Roll (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Clarcam (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, challenged 3 out, led when fell next, in a race won by Hawk High (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Mar, 24 ran.
Commissioned (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Held up in last trio, steady headway on inside approaching 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, switched left approaching last, went 2nd last, ridden and no impression when hung left under pressure flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Activial (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Dispour (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Disputed lead 3f, chased clear leader, lost 2nd over 3f out, steadily faded under pressure well over 1f out, 6th of 13, 31l behind My Tent Or Yours (11-2) at Kempton 2m n h flat (3) std in Feb.
Fox Norton (FR) 5-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led before 3 out, ridden run-in, just held on, won at Doncaster 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec beating Broughton (10-12) by hd, 5 ran.
Guitar Pete (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) In touch, joined leader 3rd, led narrowly 2 out, headed approaching last, ridden and kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Tiger Roll (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Handiwork 33-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway approaching last, stayed on, never involved, 9th of 24, 7l behind Hawk High (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Mar.
Hawk High (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, challenged approaching last, led flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Mar beating Katgary (11-1) by 3/4l, 24 ran.
Rhamnus 14-1 (8-11) In touch, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Alfred Hutchinson (8-9) at Lingfield 1m stks (3yo+) (3) pol in Dec (flat).
Violet Dancer 20-1 (11-1) Mid-division, hampered 2nd, soon in touch, not fluent and every chance 3 out, no impression last, 10th of 24, 9l behind Hawk High (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Mar.
Aurore D'estruval (FR) 6-4fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 1st, regained 2nd after 4 out, challenged on bit 2 out, every chance last, ridden run-in, kept on one pace, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Abracadabra Sivola (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
