held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, outpaced after next
led, ridden after 2 out, challenged last, headed inside final furlong, one pace
tracked leaders on outer, a close 3rd when horse jinked right and left approaching 1st, unseated rider
held up towards rear and keen, ridden and weakened approaching 3rd last ommitted hurdle
prominent, weakened 2 out
tracked leader, took closer order 4th, weakened approaching 3rd last ommitted hurdle
held up mid-division, soon tracking leaders, not fluent 2 out ridden and weakened approaching last
held up in rear, headway 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and no impression
held up mid-midivision, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 3rd last ommitted hurdle, headway 2 out, led inside final furlong, kept on well
held up in rear, good headway after 4 out, went 2nd on bit 2 out, upsides leader when not fluent last, found nil entering final furlong
held up mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, weakened 2 out
A renewal full of improvers and ME VOICI is our pick with Sanctuaire and Barizan taken to run solid races. Nick Williams' charge has avoided the hurly burly of the Cheltenham Festival to come here and has improved for every racecourse outing. He looks a certain chaser of the future but with the handler's horses in good form, he might just be available at a tempting enough price to steer us away from the favourites. Sanctuaire accounted for Notus De La Tour when the pair met in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham. He was in receipt of 7lb on that day but he seemed light years ahead of the handicapper on that occasion. If Prestbury Park hasn't taken too much out of him, he has to be in with a major say in the destiny of this prize. Barizan almost blitzed them from the gate in the Triumph Hurdle before succumbing close home. On this tight track, there is every reason to believe that he will attempt to use the same tactics again. Olofi was a tad disappointing on that occasion and is surely better than this bare line of form suggests. Super Kenny was very impressive on his hurdling debut. Nicky Henderson is not one to tilt at windmills so his presence in this line up has to be respected. Howard Johnson has traditionally done well at this meeting so Nafaath has to be figured in calculations despite having something to find on a bare reading of the formbook. Drussell has improved in handicaps and probably couldn't have it soft enough on balance. The going will prove critical in this race where there is likely to be a very generous pace upfront and for the winner, Me Voici represents the option.
Al Qeddaaf (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) With leaders, led 2nd, headed next, led again 3 out, headed and hit 2 out, weakened towards finish, 4th of 14, 8l behind Gilded Age (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Barizan (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Led, clear from 3rd, still 15 lengths clear when hit 2 out, ridden and stride shortened approaching last, 5 lengths clear when mistake last, headed flat, rallied towards finish, 2nd of 17, 1 1/4l behind Soldatino (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Double Handful (GER) 40-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, effort 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 17, 19l behind Nice One Eric (11-0) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Drussell (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Tracked leaders, every chance when hit 2 out, led last, ran on readily, won at Ayr 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Si Bien (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 14 ran.
Me Voici (FR) 11-10fav (11-6) Held up in touch, chased leaders after 4 out, left in lead 3 out, clear approaching last, easily, won at Haydock 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) sft in Feb beating Diktalina (10-13) by 9l, 7 ran.
Nafaath (IRE) Evensfav (10-7) Chased leaders, led 3 out, clear next, easily, won at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gf in Mar beating Saveiro (11-2) by 18l, 11 ran.
Notus De La Tour (FR) 13-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway and not much room approaching 3 out, led after next until approaching last, readily outpaced by winner, held on well for 2nd, 2nd of 24, 9l behind Sanctuaire (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m Juvenile Novice Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo) (1) gd in Mar.
Olofi (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Prominent in main group, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened last, 9th of 17, 36l behind Soldatino (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Orsippus (USA) 33-1 (11-0) Steadied towards rear approaching 2nd, hit next, headway approaching 2 out, went 3rd after last, stayed on well, closed on 2nd, no chance with winner, 3rd of 24, 11l behind Sanctuaire (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m Juvenile Novice Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo) (1) gd in Mar.
Sanctuaire (FR) 4-1fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, smooth headway approaching 3 out, led before last, quickened away flat, easily, won at Cheltenham 2m Juvenile Novice Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo) (1) gd in Mar beating Notus De La Tour (11-9) by 9l, 24 ran.
Super Kenny (IRE) 5-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4th, led on bit approaching 2 out, readily, won at Stratford 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gf in Mar beating Googoobarabajagal (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
