led after 1st, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, behind when hampered next, pulled up before last
very slowly away, held up, headway when fell 2 out
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, soon headed, ridden next, kept on one pace flat
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, one pace approaching last
held up in touch, mistake and pecked 2nd, headway approaching 5th, led going well approaching 2 out, ridden and not fluent last, stayed on well flat
led to after 1st, ridden and weakened from 5th, tailed off
in touch, ridden 2 out, outpaced approaching last, rallied and kept on well flat
held up, headway 3 out, ridden and chased winner approaching last, no extra flat
held up towards rear, pushed along from 4th, ridden after 3 out, soon one pace, beaten when hit last
A fascinating renewal of the Bula Hurdle with only Bilboa of the first five home in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle in March not lining up. The winner there Hors La Loi III normally needs a run to put him straight and, while he runs particularly well at Cheltenham, the seven-year-old is probably best watched. Runner-up Marble Arch looked to be in need of the run in the 'Fighting Fifth' at Newcastle recently and, while he should strip fitter for that, Hugh Morrison's gelding makes limited appeal. Geos reverts to hurdling having been well held by Best Mate in the Peterborough Chase, while stablemate Landing Light should be better suited by the conditions here than the testing ground he faced behind Baracouda on his reappearance. American raider Al Skywalker is impossible to evaluate but is not discounted lightly and, while Never won with plenty in hand at Newbury in a handicap last time, he needs to improve considerably to beat Rooster Booster, who is the TEAMtalk selection. The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding shot to the head of the Champion Hurdle ante-post market when an impressive winner of a handicap over course and distance at the Open meeting and, in his current form, he looks the one to beat.
