held up towards rear and keen, in touch before 4th, blundered 4 out, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead before last, headed run-in, no extra
held up in rear, headway before 2 out, chased winner last, led run-in, kept on and headed towards finish
mid-division, ridden before 3 out, weakened before last
tracked leader, pushed along and weakened before 4 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, ridden and weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, headway before last, ran on well to lead towards finish
tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed before last, weakened run-in
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden and no extra run-in
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
led, soon clear until 4th, headed 4 out, ridden and weakened before 3 out
MY TENT OR YOURS will be the star attraction in this. The Champion Hurdle second will be a short-priced favourite as all but two of his rivals will have to carry more than their allotted weight but he need only reproduce his best form of this season, which has included a couple of Grade 1 victories, to get back to winning ways. Court Minstrel defied a big weight at Aintree a week ago and should give another good account while Flaxen Flare has a decent record in valuable handicaps. On their form with the selection in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle in November, both Cockney Sparrow and Cotton Mill could have claims while Clever Cookie won a Grade 2 at Kelso last month. Montbazon's run in the County Hurdle has already been franked and he's another possibility but the remainder are likely to struggle.
My Tent Or Yours (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Held up, took keen hold, closed 3rd, hit 5th, close 4th 2 out, went 2nd before last, 1 length down flat, ran on well towards finish, just held, 2nd of 9, nk behind Jezki (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Court Minstrel (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway before 3 out, travelled well before 2 out, led last, ridden and edged left run-in, held on towards finish, won at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gs beating Rainbow Peak (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 22 ran.
Flaxen Flare (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge before last, lost place and no extra flat, 5th of 28, 7l behind Lac Fontana (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Cotton Mill 20-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, challenged on outside 3 out to after next, soon ridden and lost place, weakened last, 18th of 28, 25l behind Whisper (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Montbazon (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, steady headway 2 out, ridden to challenge between last 2, led last, headed flat, kept on same pace, 3rd of 28, 1 1/2l behind Lac Fontana (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Clever Cookie 13-8fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, ridden clear flat, stayed on well, won at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (1) gs in Mar beating Fergall (11-8) by 8l, 10 ran.
Cockney Sparrow 8-1 (11-5) In touch on inside, headway when hampered 2 out, soon driven and outpaced, stayed on under pressure flat, no impression, 5th of 16, 5l behind Quevega (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Mar.
Ifandbutwhynot (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Behind, some headway into mid-division 2 out, never near leaders, 15th of 28, 17l behind Whisper (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Swing Bowler 9-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led approaching 2 out until 2 out, chased leaders, weakened before last, 7th of 14, 12l behind Baltimore Rock (10-12) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Mar.
Silk Hall (UAE) 12-1 (11-12) Attempted to make all, mistake 4 out, headed and dropped to 3rd 3 out, no extra next, relegated to 4th at last, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 5, 22l behind Domination (11-2) at Cork 2m 2f hdl gd in Aug.
Barizan (IRE) 50-1 (10-8) With leaders, ridden 2 out, weakened before last, 10th of 28, 12l behind Lac Fontana (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
