held up and behind, headway after 3 out, still going well after 2 out, shaken up and every chance last, ridden and not quicken flat
held up in touch, hampered 7th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, well behind when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, mistake 9th, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened quickly approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
took keen hold, held up, hit 6th, headway approaching 9th, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
held up and behind, reminder after 6th, ridden and still plenty to do after 3 out, good headway after 2 out, led just before last, ran on strongly flat
led, headed approaching 7th, lost 2nd and hit 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up and behind, ridden after 3 out, jumped left 2 out, stayed on approaching last, never near leaders
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, every chance just before last, stayed on flat
mid-division on outside, lost place after 7th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, slightly hampered 7th, headway after 9th, went 3rd briefly approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
chased leader from 2nd, led approaching 7th, clear approaching next, still 4 lengths clear 2 out, ridden and edged left approaching last, soon headed, no extra flat
chased leader to 2nd, in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
This race has produced an excellent line-up, with the vote just going to Baracouda ahead of Rule Supreme, Crystal d'Ainay, and Emotional Moment. Baracouda will be a warm order here as he bids to land this race for the third time in the last four years. Only Iris's Gift, in last year's race, has prevented him from attempting the four-timer. And judging by the way he has battled to victory this season in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and the Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor, he still looks the one to beat. His trainer certainly reckons so anyway. The horse he beat in each of those races, Crystal d'Ainay, put a disappointing Cleeve Hurdle run behind him to win well at Kempton when fitted with a first-time visor. He was third in this race last year and he looks set to go well again. The Irish raiders, Emotional Moment and Rule Supreme come firmly into the reckoning. The former has looked better than ever in rattling up a straight hat-trick of wins this year, while Rule Supreme, only beaten three-quarter-of-a-length when third in the 'Long Walk', has since confirmed himself as one of the leading three-mile chasers in the isles by winning Leopardstown's Hennessy Gold Cup. If he takes up this engagement, expect a big run. Martin Pipe relies on the Cleeve Hurdle runner-up, Korelo, who finished ahead of a below-par Crystal d'Ainay that day, and Westender, who was eight lengths behind him in the Cleeve but reopposes on four pound better terms today. If you add in the fact that one of last season's top novices, Inglis Drever, who won the Axminster Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on his latest start, is also in the line-up, then we certainly have a race to savour. It will be no cakewalk for Baracouda, but neither will he go down without a fight, and, accordingly, he is selected to make history by landing the first running of this race under its new name, the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
Baracouda (FR) 8-13fav Held up, took closer order 5th, joined leader 2 out, led approaching last, stumbled after last, soon ridden, idled close home, won at Windsor 3m 1f hdl Grd 1 (A) sft in Dec beating Crystal d'Ainay by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Crystal d'Ainay (FR) 5-2 Held up, haedway before 9th, chased leader 2 out, led before last, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 3m hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb beating Monet's Garden by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Emotional Moment (IRE) 8-11fav Made all, drew clear from 4 out, eased after last, not extended, won at Navan 3m hdl Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb beating Yogi by 9l, 5 ran.
Exotic Dancer (FR) 20-1 Prominent and keen, led after 2nd, mistake 4th, headed 3 out, soon weakened, last of 8, 24l behind Blue Canyon at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
Inglis Drever 11-10fav Led and jumped left throughout, ridden and quickened clear approaching 2 out, blundered last, hard ridden and ran on well flat, won at Wincanton 2m hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb beating Perouse by 5l, 7 ran.
Knife Edge (USA) 50-1 Mistake 4th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Supreme Prince at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (A) gs, 15 ran.
Korelo (FR) 8-1 Held up in rear, steady headway on wide outside 3 out, upsides winner and went left last, strong challenge run-in, just held, 2nd of 11, hd behind Patriarch Express at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Rule Supreme (IRE) 11-2 Tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd 6 out, left 2nd next, improved to lead after 3 out, ridden and joined after 2 out, regained lead last, stayed on well to draw clear run-in, won at Leopardstown 3m chs Grd 1 (A) sft in Feb beating Beef Or Salmo.
Sh Boom 12-1 Held up, took closer order 5th, mistake 7th, ridden and effort 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 16l behind Baracouda at Windsor 3m 1f hdl Grd 1 (A) sft in Dec.
The French Furze (IRE) 33-1 Held up in touch, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Inglis Drever at Haydock 2m hdl Grd 2 (A) hvy in Jan.
Westender (FR) 5-1 Held up in mid-division, pushed along 8th, under pressure and effort 3 out, stayed on before last to take 3rd run-in, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Patriarch Express at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Yogi (IRE) 14-1 Chased leaders, driven along from 5 out, no impression after 4 out, kept on under pressure to go moderate 2nd from last, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Emotional Moment at Navan 3m hdl Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
