tracked winner, driven to challenge before last, every chance flat, stayed on, just held
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, outpaced next, well beaten last
in rear, blundered 4th, not fluent next, soon weakened, not fluent 3 out
made all, driven after 2 out, jumped right last, hard pressed, held on well
in rear, headway approaching 3 out, outpaced next, well held last
French-breds have won this in each of the last five years and this has been won by the favourite in the last three. Quel Destin won only one of four hurdle starts in France but has only been beaten once since joining Paul Nicholls, though it was over this course and distance. The filly Tazka is easily held on the form book while the form of Arverne’s Auteuil victory last month looks nothing special. ADJALI was odds-on for his UK debut at Market Rasen and beat a previous winner in a hack canter. He’s already been talked of as a potential Triumph Hurdle winner and will be a short price to follow up here running in the same colours as last year’s winner We Have A Dream.
Adjali (GER) 4-5fav (11-4) Led 2nd, 4 lengths clear 4 out, ran on, comfortable, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) gs in Dec beating King D'Argent (11-4) by 13l, 7 ran.
Arverne (FR) (10-5) won at Auteuil 2m 1f gd in Nov beating Cap Du Mathan (10-5) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
De Bruyne Horse 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, outpaced when mistake 3 out, never troubled leaders, 5th of 11, 36 1/2l behind Fresno Emery (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) sft in Dec.
Quel Destin (FR) 8-11fav (11-3) Led to before 4 out, tracked leader, effort after next, soon every chance, ridden and stayed to lead narrowly again flat, held on, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) gd in Dec beating Elysees (10-12) by nk, 5 ran.
Tazka (FR) 11-8fav (10-12) Always prominent, led after 3 out, went left and not fluent next, soon hard pressed, hit last, ridden and headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Fresno Emery (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) sft in Dec.
