tracked leading pair, went 2nd before 3rd, closed on winner 5th, pushed along before 2 out, driven and no impression between last 2, lost 2nd and weakened flat
held up in last pair, headway to 3rd approaching 4th, pushed along after 3 out, stayed on to 2nd flat and soon driven, closing gradually but no impression when lost 2nd final 100 yards and stayed on same pace after
tracked leaders in 4th, disputing 3rd at 7th, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, rallied last, driven and stayed on flat, squeezed through and went 2nd final 100 yards, closed strongly near finish, just held
tracked winner until before 3rd, soon pushed along and lost place, last and struggling before 6th, never on terms after, tailed off
in rear, struggling in 5th before 6th, tailed off
Paul Nicholls' has trained two of the last three winners and SAPHIR DU RHEU can follow suit. He arrives on the back of a hat-trick, is well clear of the opposition on official figures and can take this as a prep for the World Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival. Meister Eckhart was runner-up in last year's Coral Cup at the Festival but was pulled-up on his reappearance after a bad mistake. He's preferred to Chris Pea Green if putting in a clear round. Kayf Moss arrives in good form with a couple of handicap wins to his name, but he has plenty to find in this company with the remaining pair even harder to fancy.
Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 2-1 (11-5) Led, pressed 2 out, headed narrowly last, soon regained lead, just held on, all out, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f ltd hcp hdl (2) hvy beating Whisper (10-13) by hd, 6 ran.
Chris Pea Green 16-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace and no impression last, 7th of 20, 7l behind Splash of Ginge (10-3) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) hvy.
Kayf Moss 6-4fav (10-8) Led, headed 4 out, remained close up, led 3 out, clear before and blundered 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy beating Buckhorn Tom (10-11) by 27l, 8 ran.
Meister Eckhart (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Held up 4th and last, raced wide before 3 out (usual 4 out), soon driven, one pace when blundered badly 2 out (usual 3 out), not recover and pulled up, in a race won by Wonderful Charm (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov, 4 ran.
Princely Hero (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Chased leaders in 4th, lost place and dropped to rear 7th, trying to rally when mistake 13th, weakened and dropped out next, tailed off, 4th of 6, well behind Alteranthela (11-0) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec.
Unowhatimeanharry 9-4 (11-4) Took keen hold, led until 3rd, pressed winner, not fluent 5th, ridden 2 out, no impression on winner when taking 2nd briefly last, one pace, 3rd of 14, 11l behind Arthur's Oak (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy.
