made all, ridden clear flat, stayed on well, eased towards finish, comfortably
tracked winner throughout, outpaced after last, soon ridden, kept on same pace flat, no chance with winner
held up 3rd and last, hit 6th, outpaced when hit 2 out, ridden and no impression flat
There wasn't much between Tarkari and PISTOLET NOIR on official ratings over hurdles but the former appeared to regress last season. Paul Nicholls' gelding didn't manage a win either but ran a lot better than his final placing suggests in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival and looks just the type to run up a sequence over fences before the autumn. Al Qeddaaf won twice over hurdles before the turn of the year and will be strip fitter for his run at Bangor last month. He looks a better bet than Plumpton fourth All For Free on his chasing bow.
Al Qeddaaf (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, shaken up 6th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 8, 36l behind Tatispout (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Pistolet Noir (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, badly hampered 1st, some headway before 2 out, weakened before last, 15th of 20, well behind Battle Group (11-1) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Tarkari (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, weakened 5th, soon beaten, 19th of 22, well behind Eradicate (11-5) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd.
All For Free (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, no chance with leading duo, edged left under pressure flat, weakened to 4th towards finish, 4th of 8, 19l behind Teenage Kicks (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf.
