chased leader, jumped slightly right at times, led approaching last, quickened clear final 150 yards, comfortably
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, outpaced before last, stayed on towards finish to take 4th close home
led, ridden and headed before last, 4th and beaten when hit hurdle, weakened flat, lost 4th close home
held up, headway to track leaders going ok before 2 out, ridden before last, soon beaten
refused to race
held up in last, not fluent 1st, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, mistake 4th, headway after 2 out, close 3rd when switched left before last, no impression flat, stayed on same pace
mid-division, headway 3rd, mistake 2 out, challenged before last, ridden and outpaced by winner flat, stayed on
THE NEW ONE is rarely impressive in his victories and he's always liable to make at least one error but he's a class act and has won four of his seven starts at Cheltenham, including a Grade 1 and two Grade 2s. He readily picked off Zamdy Man at Haydock three weeks ago and, despite 4lb worse terms, can confirm that running. Bertimont was second in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton after beating a subsequent winner in a handicap at Chepstow on his UK debut but a bigger danger may be Vaniteux. The latter was third in the Supreme Novices' here in March and only found one too good under top weight in the Greatwood at the track on his reappearance. The others have a bit to find to get involved.
The New One (IRE) 1-3fav (11-3) Tracked clear leader, challenged on bit last, shaken up to led run-in, kept on strongly, driven out, won at Haydock 2m hdl (2) sft in Nov beating Zamdy Man (11-3) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
King of The Picts (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders on inner in 3rd, brought down 5th, in a race won by Lieutenant Colonel (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hdl G1 (1) in Nov, 5 ran.
Zamdy Man 9-1 (11-3) Led and keen, clear from 2nd, ridden before last, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 5, 2 3/4l behind The New One (11-3) at Haydock 2m hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Bertimont (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, challenged 5th, led before 2 out, joined when slightly hampered last, headed flat, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Purple Bay (10-11) at Wincanton 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Mad Moose (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Reluctant to race and refused 1st, in a race won by Sire De Grugy (11-7) at Sandown 2m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec '13, 9 ran.
Mighty Mambo 10-1 (11-8) Held up in 5th, mistake and slight peck 6th, pushed along and weakened soon after 7th, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Respectueux (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Jun.
Olofi (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, headway after next, 5th last, no extra flat, 8th of 15, 13l behind Garde La Victoire (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Vaniteux (FR) 7-2fav (11-12) Mid-division, closed before 3rd, not fluent 4th, went 3rd last, driven flat, stayed on well, went 2nd towards finish, unable to challenge winner, 2nd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Garde La Victoire (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
