tracked leaders, awkward and lost place 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
held up in rear, mistake 1st, headway travelling well after 3 out, shaken up after next, soon weakened, mistake last
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
mid-division, headway on inside 7th, led before last, drifted right, mistake last, clear flat, stayed on well
held up in rear, mistake 7th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened after next
tracked leader, led after 3 out, headed approaching last, weakened flat
held up in mid-division, headway on outside 5th, challenged 2 out, switched left before last, no impression on winner and edged left flat, lost 2nd towards finish
Agrapart sprang a surprise in this last year but a repeat looks unlikely on this season’s form. Colin's Sister beat Wholestone on her reappearance and also finished ahead of that rival in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. She was effective over this trip last season but OLD GUARD is having a good season and wasn’t beaten far in the International Hurdle here last month having won over this trip at Newbury earlier. It’s difficult to see any of the remaining quartet playing a significant part if the principals run up to form.
Agrapart (FR) (10-10) 7th of 9, 37 3/4l behind Alex De Larredya (10-10) at Auteuil 3m gd in Nov.
Anteros (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway after 2 out, 4th after last, soon hung right, no impression, lost 4th close home, 5th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Arthur's Gift (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Old Guard 9-1 (11-4) Tracked leader until 2 out, one pace when squeezed out before last, hung left after last, stayed on final 100 yards, no impression, 5th of 7, 3 3/4l behind My Tent Or Yours (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Wholestone (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 5th, mistake reminder and dropped to last 5th, pushed along in 5th before 3 out, weakened before next, last of 6, 13 1/2l behind Beer Goggles (11-0) at Newbury 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Qualando (FR) 33-1 (12-2) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th or 3 out, well beaten 2 out, 9th of 10, 21 3/4l behind Smaoineamh Alainn (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Rayvin Black 2-1fav (11-12) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 6, 21l behind Potters Story (10-13) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Royal Vacation (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, losing pace when mistake 9th, towards rear and no chance after, tailed off and pulled up before 15th, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Colin's Sister 8-1 (10-13) Held up in 6th, gained a place 5th, dropped to last again 4 out, plugged on into modest 3rd briefly before the last, weakened run-in, 4th of 6, 9l behind Beer Goggles (11-0) at Newbury 3m (1) sft in Dec.
