held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden after last, kept on to lead run-in
tracked leaders in 3rd, blundered 1st, weakening when hampered last
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden and every chance run-in, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led before 2 out, headed run-in, kept on
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out to tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, no extra from last
tracked leader, led after 3rd, headed 4th, weakened before last
led, headed after 3rd, led again 4th, headed before 2 out, weakening when fell last
held up towards rear and keen, ridden after last, kept on same pace and no impression
held up in rear, towards rear when fell last
held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace
The Triumph Hurdle form is usually a lot stronger than that of the Fred Winter and two of the last three winners of this have arrived having finished third in the juvenile Grade 1 at The Festival. HARGAM can follow suit as he appeared to be travelling as well as the first two approaching the last at Cheltenham until weakening in the rain-softened ground. This surface will be much more to his liking and he can confirm running with Devilment and Stars Over The Sea. Bouvreuil, All Yours, Starchitect and Hostile Fire all have some improving to do but Bristol De Mai looked very smart when winning the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow in December and he had Intense Tango behind when second in a Grade 2 at Kelso last time. Alan King has trained four of the last eight winners so a market move for Kempton winner Winner Massagot would be significant.
All Yours (FR) 11-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway when hampered after 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on flat, not able to get on terms, 5th of 22, 5l behind Qualando (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcap hdle Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Bouvreuil (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, headway after 4 out, went 2nd from last, every chance flat, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 22, 1 1/2l behind Qualando (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcap hdle Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Bristol De Mai (FR) 6-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 5 out, blundered 3 out, headed before last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Glingerburn (11-9) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Devilment 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 2 out, went 4th before last, kept on same pace, no impression with front trio, 4th of 16, 14l behind Peace And Co (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Hargam (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, disputed 2nd from after 2nd, challenged after 2 out, led narrowly between last 2, headed but still every chance approaching last, kept on same pace, no extra and held flat, 3rd of 16, 4 1/2l behind Peace And Co (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Hostile Fire (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, mistake 4th, not fluent and hampered 4 out, well beaten after, 19th of 22, well behind Qualando (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcap hdle Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Starchitect (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, led, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace flat, lost 3rd post, 4th of 22, 4 1/2l behind Qualando (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcap hdle Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Stars Over The Sea (USA) 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division on inside, headway 3 out, soon tracked leaders, outpaced after next, no extra, weakened approaching last, 7th of 16, 23l behind Peace And Co (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Winner Massagot (FR) 9-2 (10-7) Mid-division, smooth headway 3 out, travelling strongly when led approaching last, driven clear, ran on strongly, won at Kempton 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar beating Argot (10-7) by 4l, 11 ran.
Intense Tango 5-2 (10-7) Held up in touch, went 2nd 3 out, one pace before last, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Glingerburn (11-9) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.
