led until after 1st, chased winner, not fluent 8th, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leaders, 2nd briefly 7th, 4th and outpaced after 3 out, well held next
rear of mid-division, carried right by loose horse and last from 6th, soon niggled along, behind 10th, pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, hampered 3rd, headway 14th, 3rd 3 out, no impression before next, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, hampered 3rd, never figured, well beaten when mistake 3 out, clambered over 2 out and pulled up
tracked leaders, blundered badly and unseated rider 3rd
led after 1st, jumped right 11th, drew clear before 3 out, about 12 lengths clear 2 out, mistake last, started idling and veered right 1f out, headed 120 yards out, rallied to lead post
mid-division, hit 11th, in touch when 15th, 5th and outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, not fluent 4th (water), ridden after 13th, hit next, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, dropped off front trio 7th, closed from 12th, losing place 14th, weakened after next, pulled up after 4 out
held up towards rear, hit 5th, headway 15th, 2nd after 3 out, about 12 lengths down when not fluent 2 out, closed on winner who started idling 1f out, led 120 yards out, headed post
mid-division, struggling from 12th, behind 13th, pulled up after 4 out
There has only been one winner of this older than seven since the turn of the century but six-year-olds had been faring just as badly prior to Don Poli’s victory in 2015. That’s a worry for supporters of a few of these including the Nicky Henderson pair Whisper, among the best of these over hurdles when in the mood, and Might Bite. But the latter would have beaten Royal Vacation easily in the Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day had he not tipped up at the last and the latter has won twice since, including here in January. Alpha Des Obeaux was second in last year’s World Hurdle but his career over fences has been stop-start and he burst blood vessels at Leopardstown over Christmas. Bellshill beat Acapella Bourgeois over hurdles last year but is another with plenty still to prove over the larger obstacles after falling at Leopardstown. O O SEVEN will be the outsider of the Henderson trio but this race often throws up a surprise result. Placed twice at the highest level over hurdles, he’s becoming a Festival regular and there were excuses when he was only third at Doncaster in between wins here and at Huntingdon - the drying ground is a plus. Our Kaempfer is improving and could also go well at big odds.
Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 7-2 (11-3) Made all and soon well clear, distance clear from 6 out, pushed along briefly after 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in, unchallenged, won at Navan 3m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Road To Respect (11-3) by 32l, 8 ran.
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Prominent, progress to dispute after 7th, pecked slightly 5 out, soon ridden and dropped to rear, no extra, behind and pulled up before 3 out, at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Aurillac (FR) 11-4 (11-4) Behind, soon pushed along, tailed off and pulled up before 7th, at Hereford 3m 1f (3) hvy in Feb.
Bellshill (IRE) 6-5fav (11-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, soon 4th, slight mistake 5th, pushed along approaching straight, soon no impression, fell last, at Leopardstown 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Heron Heights (IRE) 11-2jfav (11-10) Mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along and no impression approaching 2 out, no extra, 6th of 10, 16 3/4l behind Westerners Son (10-13) at Naas 2m hcp sft in Feb.
Marinero (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Led after 1st to 3rd, led again next, headed after 10th, chased clear leader (winner), headway and close up 3 out to before next, kept on same pace, no chance after, 2nd of 4, 3 3/4l behind Thistlecrack (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gs in Nov.
Might Bite (IRE) 1-7fav (11-6) Tracked leader, led 2nd, not fluent 6th, clear from before 6 out, unchallenged, won at Doncaster 3m (4) gs in Feb beating Gorran Haven (11-0) by dist, 3 ran.
O O Seven (IRE) 5-6fav (11-8) Held up in touch, 2nd 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, led approaching last, driven and hung right flat, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Mad Jack Mytton (10-6) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Our Kaempfer (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, steady headway on inside tracking leaders 12th, left 2nd 14th, led travelling well 2 out, soon cruised clear, pecked last, easily, won at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan beating Kruzhlinin (11-8) by 7l, 10 ran.
Royal Vacation (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, stayed on, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Potters Legend (11-5) by 8l, 14 ran.
Whisper (FR) 11-4 (11-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, closed 8th, 2nd 10th, mistake 13th, shaken up to challenge 2 out, soon led, edged right towards finish, driven and held on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan beating Clan Des Obeaux (11-2) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Briery Belle 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 2nd, headed before 4th, mistake 6th, 3rd from 10th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 4, 20 1/2l behind Whisper (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan.
