keen, led until not fluent and narrowly headed after 5 out, led again as winner hit 4 out, driven 2 lengths ahead before last and stayed on until not pace of winner and headed towards finish
chased leader, challenged from 6th, not fluent and led narrowly after 5 out, mistake and headed 4 out, looked held before last until quickened ahead towards finish
If anywhere as good a chaser as a hurdler then COOTEHILL should be winning this. Thought good enough for a crack at the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last season the Nigel Twiston-Davies inmate did win plenty of big races over timber and should go well on his bow over the big stuff. Blacktoft looks the obvious danger as he has already proven himself useful over fences while Holoko Heights is on top form but will need to improve again. Cootehill looks the call based on his timber form.
Blacktoft (USA) 12-1 (11-6) Led, slight mistake 4th, disputed before 4 out, ridden in 2nd and mistake 2 out, no extra after last, weakened, 5th of 8, 26l behind Beau Michael (11-6) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs gf in Jul.
Cootehill (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Held up behind, headway after 3 out, effort next, soon ridden and no impression, weakened last, 6th of 9, 20l behind Captain Chris (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Grand Opera (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Mistake 1st, chased leaders, closer in 3rd 4 out, ridden in 5th next, no impression and kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Keelaghan (11-2) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f chs gd.
Holoko Heights 4-6fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 4th, led before 2 out, soon clear, eased flat, won at Southwell 2m sell hdl (5) gd in Jul beating Mossmann Gorge (10-9) by 9l, 7 ran.
