held up mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, kept on from next
held up in touch, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, no extra from last
held up towards rear, ridden and outpaced 7th, never dangerous
held up, weakened 4 out
chased leaders and keen, ridden in 3rd when blundered 2 out, weakened after last
chased leaders, lost place and in rear from 5th, headway to join leader 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
in touch, lost place from 7th
chased leader, led after 5th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, headway 6th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on
led, hit 4th, headed after next, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
It will be interesting to see if Black Jack Ketchum takes his chance in this contest having seemingly failed to stay three miles here on Thursday but a safer bet looks to be Detroit City, who gets the vote ahead of Afsoun and Asian Maze. The selection was never travelling in the Champion Hurdle last month but is better than he showed at Cheltenham and the Cesarewitch winner should appreciate today's longer trip so he gets the vote. David Pipe's Gaspara was a ready winner of the Fred Winter having previously landed the Imperial Cup but this may be a step too far for her, while Blazing Bailey is, like Black Jack Ketchum, far from certain to take his chance. Jazz Messenger may prefer a softer surface and of more interest may be Afsoun. Nicky Henderson's gelding has the beating of the selection on Champion Hurdle form but the faster ground today may not be to his advantage. Asian Maze was good value for her win in this event 12 months ago and would have claims on that effort but she has disappointed this term and may now be best watched in a race where the vote goes to Detroit City.
Afsoun (FR) 28-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway from 2 out, hung left under pressure between last 2, continued to hang left flat, stayed on to take 3rd near finish, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Sublimity (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Al Eile (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, raced wide, close up approaching 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, last of 4, 11l behind Brave Inca (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) hvy in Dec.
Arcalis 16-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden to lead last, soon headed, no extra, 5th of 28, 2l behind Pedrobob (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Detroit City (USA) 6-4fav (11-10) Not fluent, never going well, soon pushed along to hold place, chased leaders on outside 3rd, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 10, 19l behind Sublimity (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Jazz Messenger (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders on outer, 3rd halfway, challenged 2 out, no extra early straight, one pace, 5th of 8, 10l behind Hardy Eustace (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Jan.
Kawagino (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden after 3 out, every chance when mistake last, kept on, 4th of 28, 2l behind Pedrobob (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Strangely Brown (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, ridden and no impression on leaders when went right and rider lost irons 2 out, 6th of 14, 25l behind Inglis Drever (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Whispered Promises (USA) 25-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakening when hit next, 23rd of 28, 28l behind Pedrobob (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Asian Maze (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Chased leader to 3rd, stayed prominent, until ridden and lost place 5th, 7th of 10, 19l behind Sublimity (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Gaspara (FR) 9-2jt-fav (10-11) Led after 1st, driven along after 4th, 3 lengths clear from 3 out, clear approaching last, ran on under pressure flat, won at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar beating Altilhar (10-8) by 5l, 24 ran.
Star Antique (FR) (9-13) Led to last, one pace when headed, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Remember Rose (10-2) at Auteuil 2m 1f Grp 2 (1) hvy in Nov.
Black Jack Ketchum (IRE) 7-4fav (11-10) Held up, headway 8th, chased winner next, challenged 3 out, ridden and beaten 2 out, 2nd of 6, 13l behind Mighty Man (11-10) at Aintree 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gd.
Blazing Bailey 9-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along, close 3rd when fell 4 out in race won by Mighty Man (11-10) at Aintree 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gd, 6 ran.
