tracked leaders, raced keenly, mistake 2nd, went 2nd 4 out until before 3 out, lost place after 2 out, soon weakened, well beaten when mistake last and wandered left on landing
mid-division, closing when hit 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, driven and stayed on well flat, edged right and asserting inside final 100 yards
held up towards rear, not fluent 3 out, lost touch before next, soon well behind, tailed off
held up in mid-division, headway from home turn, went 4th last, unable to get on terms and kept on same pace flat
tracked leaders on outside, mistake 4 out, soon beaten, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd last, stayed on flat but not able to trouble winner
led, not fluent 4 out, mistake 2 out, driven and headed before last, lost 2nd at hurdle, held in 3rd after, kept on same pace, edged right final 75 yards
held up towards rear on inside, headway from 3 out to chase leaders after 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, weakened flat
tracked leader, hit 4th, hit 4 out and lost 2nd, 2nd again before 3 out until approaching 2 out, outpaced and no impression before last, stayed on again without threatening flat
reluctant to race and lost about 6 lengths, recovered ground by after 1st but still held up in rear, headway on outside 3 out, travelling ok chasing leaders after next, ridden and no impression before untidy jump last, weakened flat
NonRunner
In a sub-standard renewal of hurdling’s Blue Riband, the spotlight is on Yanworth to prove he has the speed and jumping ability to beat the specialist two-milers over the minimum trip. He is unbeaten since finishing second to Yorkhill in last year’s Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle over further but has been unspectacular in victories at Kempton and Wincanton, though does appear to have the beating of The New One, Ch'tibello and Sceau Royal. The decision to switch BUVEUR D’AIR back to hurdles can pay dividends for Nicky Henderson as he was always cantering at Ascot last month and had high-class form over the smaller obstacles last season, finishing third behind Altior in the Supreme Novices’ before edging out Petit Mouchoir in a Grade 1 at Aintree - the latter has beaten Footpad twice in Ireland recently. Brain Power and My Tent Or Yours are both stablemates of the selection but the former takes a steep rise in class and the latter is a light of former days. Wicklow Brave is usually found wanting at this level but the novice Moon Racer is a potential fly in the ointment as he won the Champion Bumper here in 2015 and beat the smart Ballyandy on his hurdling debut. Recent Kelso scorer Cyrius Darius is a Grade 2 winner but would be a shock victor.
Brain Power (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Well placed on outside, 2nd travelling well after 3 out, led last, edged right and quickened clear run-in, ridden out, won at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec beating Consul De Thaix (10-11) by 5l, 19 ran.
Buveur D'Air (FR) 1-4fav (11-4) Raced in 3rd behind clear leader, hit 1st, closer on bit before 2 out, went 2nd before the last, 1 length down last, cruised into lead final 100 yards, hard held, won at Sandown 2m lst (1) hvy in Feb beating Rayvin Black (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Cyrus Darius 5-2 (11-2) In rear, headway 3 out, challenging on bit when left in lead 2 out, kept on well, won at Kelso 2m 2f (2) hvy in Feb beating One For Harry (11-2) by 7l, 4 ran.
Footpad (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Raced in moderate 3rd, closed to almost dispute moderate 2nd when slight mistake last and left chasing winner, ran on well run-in, not bridge gap, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Petit Mouchoir (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) gd in Jan.
Moon Racer (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, led next, headed towards stands rail off last bend, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov beating Mirsaale (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
My Tent Or Yours (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Pressed leader, challenged 5th, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and lost 2nd between last two, 3rd and held when blundered last, weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 5, 7 3/4l behind Yanworth (11-7) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Dec.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 9-10fav (11-10) Led, pressed from before 2 out, asserted approaching last where slight mistake, kept on well run-in, reduced lead close home but always looking likely to maintain advantage, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) gd in Jan beating Footpad (11-8) by 1l, 4 ran.
Sceau Royal (FR) 4-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, closed on bend after 3 out, led after next, headed last, unable to quicken inside final 100 yards, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Yanworth (11-10) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) sft in Feb.
The New One (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Led, headed 4th, mistake 3 out, ridden and edged left before last, hard ridden run-in, led last 50 yards, driven out, won at Haydock 2m (1) sft in Jan beating Clyne (11-4) by 1l, 5 ran.
Wicklow Brave 15-1 (8-11) 22nd of 0, 23 1/2l behind Almandin (8-3) at Flemington 2m Grp 1 hcp (1) in Nov.
Yanworth 2-5fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, closed 2 out, soon shaken up, challenged last, driven and led flat, stayed on well to assert towards finish, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) sft in Feb beating Ch'tibello (11-6) by 1l, 6 ran.
Ch'tibello (FR) 8-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, closed on bend after 3 out, led last, driven and headed flat, edged left, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Yanworth (11-10) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) sft in Feb.
