held up, ridden and outpaced 7th, some progress 4 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, headway 7th, chased winner 3 out, no impression
towards rear, raced wide, driven after 3rd, not travelling until switched to inside approaching 2 out, stayed on moderately
held up, ridden and weakened after 7th
always prominent, came wide to stand side approaching 3rd, led on bit and hit 3 out, clear approaching last easy
led and keen, hit 2nd 6th and 8th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, driven after 4th, ridden when mistake 6th, hit next and weakened
Mighty Man is one to follow this season and can make his mark straight away by beating the likes of Desert Quest and Hardy Eustace. The distance of this contest is probably going to be important to the outcome, as Champion Hurdle hope Desert Quest appears to better over the minimum. Beaten narrowly by Crow Wood to whom he was giving lumps of weight at Wincanton, he would have been the selection if this had been over two miles. However, along with dual Cheltenham hero Hardy Eustace, he faces no easy task over this near 20-furlongs with its stiff finish, and so we shall side instead with Mighty Man. Henry Daly's six-year-old should maybe have won more than he did last season, but was asked to come from way off the pace on more than one occasion by Richard Johnson, resulting in narrow defeats. He got everything right at Aintree on his final start though, reversing Cheltenham form in style with My Way De Solzen, and with No Refuge and Fire Dragon held on form, looks the one to be on here. Self Defense will no doubt run his usual game race, but is up against an improving stayer in Mighty Man who should pay his way again this season.
Fire Dragon (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure, no extra close home, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Asian Maze (11-7) at Punchestown 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Mighty Man (FR) 11-4 (11-6) Chased leaders, challenged 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, ran on well, won at Aintree 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr beating My Way de Solzen (11-10) by 7l, 12 ran.
No Refuge (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 16l behind Redemption (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct.
Self Defense 6-5fav (11-8) Tracked leader, led last, ran on strongly, won at Kempton 2m hdl (2) gd in Oct beating Kawagino (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Hardy Eustace (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Led, joined halfway, headed 3 out, 3rd and no impression before 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure, 3rd of 4, 5l behind Macs Joy (11-12) at Punchestown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Lough Derg (FR) 3-1fav (11-6) Led and mistakes, headed 16th, led again after, ridden when fell 4 out in race won by Napolitain (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Apr, 6 ran.
Yankeedoodledandy (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden 7th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Rushneeyriver (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Aug, 16 ran.
Desert Quest (IRE) 8-13fav (11-10) Held up in touch, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and challenged approaching last, hard ridden and ran on well flat, just failed, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Crow Wood (10-1) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gd.
