held up, smooth headway after 3 out, led on bit next, hard held
tracked leaders, effort after 3 out, weakened after next
took keen hold, led approaching 3rd, headed 2 out, soon weakened, eased
trakced leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
in touch, headway 3 out, every chance when not fluent 2 out, kept on for 2nd, no chance with winner
in touch, hit 6th, effort after 3 out, weakened next
led at steady pace until 3rd, chased leader until weakened 3 out
tracked leader, hit 4th, mistake 3 out, ridden and every chance before next, weakened before last
held up, headway after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, challenged for 2nd last, kept on
Mad Max is an exciting prospect but it may be worth taking him on with LEO'S LUCKY STAR; Norman The Great could be the one to take third. It would be surprising if Nicky Henderson's dual bumper winner didn't turn out to be the best horse in time but it remains to be seen how well this giant son of Kayf Tara will organise himself at his obstacles on debut over an inadequate trip. He may simply outclass this field but Leo's Lucky Star has plenty of hurdling experience to his name and is on an upward curve. He hurdles well, will handle the track and the conditions and Tony McCoy will be keen to make the most of his mount's experience and the pair could expose any chinks in the favourite's armour. The remainders' form falls a long way short of that achieved by the two principals but all are unexposed and are thus potential improvers. Indian Blood is tried in a tonguestrap whilst Carmond was well backed last time but Norman The Great also deserves respect having chased home Binocular over course and distance in January. Mad Max should prove hard to beat but the sporting option is to take him on with Leo's Lucky Star.
Leo's Lucky Star (USA) 20-1 (11-12) Held up, headway under pressure after 3 out, stayed on to take 3rd flat, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 20, 8l behind Font (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Carmond (GER) 2-1fav (11-0) Led until ran out at the 3rd in race won by Bergo (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct, 12 ran.
Indian Blood (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, held up, not fluent 4th, effort on run to 2 out where jumped left, soon ridden and weakened, 6th of 8, 42l behind Harper Valley (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (2) gd in Dec.
Nordwind (IRE) 13-2 (10-9) Pulled hard, in touch, hit 2 out, went 2nd last, no chace with winner, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Micheal Flips (11-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (3) gf in Oct.
Norman The Great 2-1fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened tamely and pulled up 3 out in race won by Font (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Apr, 5 ran.
Optimus (USA) 5-1 (10-11) Held up, headway 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 46l behind Runaround Sue (10-7) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jun.
Saint Eric (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 15, 28l behind Tchico Polos (10-12) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Taipan's Promise (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Led, reminder 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, held when not fluent last, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Shanxi Girl (10-5) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gf.
Wizard of Odds 12-1 (11-8) Towards rear, headway 4f out, 4th and ridden when stumbled on bend well over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 45l behind Seven Is My Number (11-4) at Ascot 2m nhf (1) gs in Dec '06.
Mad Max (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Held up, headway 7f out, ridden 3f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Newbury 2m nhf Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb beating The Nightingale (11-7) by 8l, 9 ran.
