held up towards rear, headway from 2 out, hung left under pressure between last 2, continued to hang left flat, stayed on to take 3rd near finish
soon tracking leader, upsides from 2 out, driven between last 2, every chance last, kept on, not pace of winner flat
not fluent, never going well, soon pushed along to hold place, chased leaders on outside 3rd, weakened after 3 out
led, hit 5th and ridden, driven after 2 out, strong pressed and headed last, weakened flat
mistake 1st, close up on inside, smooth headway to track leading pair 5th, about 1 length 3rd and going well when fell 3 out
held up towards rear, hampered 3 out, staying on at one pace, no chance when pecked 2 out
held up, lost touch 4th, soon tailed off
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 5th, lost action and pulled up before 3 out
held up last, steady headway from 5th, tracked leading pair from 3 out, led and hit last, driven and quicken clear flat
chased leader to 3rd, stayed prominent, until ridden and lost place 5th
It is time for the Irish stranglehold to be broken in this event, and Detroit City has the right credentials to beat the likes of Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace, with Straw Bear expected to give a good account as well. It is a long time since a five-year-old prevailed in the Champion Hurdle, 22 years in fact since See You Then prevailed, but Detroit City promises to be the best dual-purpose horse since the halcyon days of Sea Pigeon in the seventies. Last year's Triumph Hurdle winner returned to the Flat to capture the Cesarewitch in October, and has not been allowed to rest on his laurels since going back over timber, having captured both the Greatwood Hurdle and Boylesport.com Hurdle here at Cheltenham, on the latter occasion proving too resilient for Hardy Eustace. Granted, the latter was conceding 4lb to his younger rival and now re-opposes off levels, but the selection is half the age of the 2005 hero, and is taken to come out on top. Mind you, Hardy Eustace was gutsy in seeing off the challenge of Brave Inca in the AIG Champion Hurdle last time, and along with the latter who bids to defend his crown here, will ensure that the Philip Hobbs inmate does not have things all his own way. Straw Bear looks held on recent Sandown form, although trainer Nick Gifford could not be more pleased with him since, and those looking for a place selection could do worse than row in with the former Sir Mark Prescott challenger, just touched off in last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle. He does at least hold Afsoun on Wincanton form, while Acambo flopped badly in his prep race. There has been a bit of a whisper for last year's Supreme Novices' fourth Sublimity since his demolition job on heavy ground at Navan in January, and if it came up really testing, he would not be out of contention for a place either. However, we have already seen one grey, Rooster Booster, storm home in this event four years ago, and the Terry Warner colours can make their way into the winner's enclosure again courtesy of Detroit City.
Afsoun (FR) 11-8 (11-10) Held up in touch, headway to chase winner approaching 3rd, ridden and lost touch approaching 2 out, soon no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Straw Bear (11-10) at Wincanton 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Brave Inca (IRE) 11-8fav (11-10) Settled 2nd, driven along 3 out, ridden to challenge after 2 out, disputed lead last, headed run-in, soon no extra, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Hardy Eustace (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Jan.
Detroit City (USA) 1-3fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, edged left and blundered last, driven out, won at Sandown 2m lst hdl (1) gs in Feb beating Straw Bear (11-8) by 2l, 6 ran.
Hardy Eustace (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Led and disputed, ridden and strongly pressed after 2 out, joined last, regained lead run-in, stayed on well under pressure, won at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Jan beating Brave Inca (11-10) by 3l, 8 ran.
Iktitaf (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Held up in touch, 5th 3 out, effort next, weakened straight, virtually pulled up last, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Hardy Eustace (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Jan.
Kawagino (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, 8th of 20, 5l behind Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Marble Garden (USA) (11-0) Prominent, led briefly 3 out, soon beaten, 6th of 16, 17l behind Exit Sud (11-0) at Enghien 2m 1f ch in Dec.
Straw Bear (USA) 8-11fav (11-10) Chased leader, led approaching 3rd, quickened clear on bit approaching 2 out, shaken up approaching last, impressive, won at Wincanton 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Afsoun (11-10) by 7l, 5 ran.
Sublimity (FR) 1-3fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd travelling well 3 out, disputed lead next, soon led, quickened clear run-in, very easily, won at Navan 2m hdl hvy in Jan beating Sulla (11-5) by 20l, 17 ran.
Asian Maze (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Behind, trailing halfway, ridden and stayed on from 2 out, 6th of 8, 17l behind Hardy Eustace (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Jan.
Acambo (GER) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division on inside, headway 5th, effort 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up at the last in race won by Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb, 20 ran.
