held up in last pair, closer in 4th at 5th, pushed along when switched right before 3 out, soon beaten
raced in 4th until 5th, dropped to last before next, tailed off
tracked leading pair, led 4th, clear when went right 2 out, stayed on strongly, very easily
edgy, led, hit 3rd, headed 4th and dropped to 3rd, went 2nd again before hit 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, no chance with winner
tracked leader, tracked winner 4th, lost 2nd before 3 out where not fluent, 3rd and beaten when not fluent 2 out
held up in rear, gained a place after 5th, pushed along and beaten before 3 out
As a maiden, Cuban Cigar is getting 8lb from his rivals but still has a lot to find on the form book. Skycutter easily held off subsequent winner Collingham at Musselburgh in December but was no match for PORTICELLO in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow three weeks later and Gary Moore’s exciting novice should record another victory here before heading for the Triumph Hurdle. Koi Dodville has had his limitations exposed and Tanganyika hasn’t run since beaten twice at Auteuil last summer.
Collingham (GER) 4-9fav (11-5) Led until after 1st, tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, led before 2 out, soon clear, stayed on, comfortably, won at Catterick 2m (4) gd in Feb beating Monsieur Pom Pom (10-12) by 8l, 4 ran.
Koi Dodville (FR) 10-1 (9-5) Mid-division, pushed along early, moved up to track leader after four furlongs, shaken up 4f out, ridden and weakened quickly 3f out, 8th of 11, 11 1/4l behind Gentleman At Arms (10-5) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Porticello (FR) 10-3 (11-0) Mid-division, raced keenly, not fluent 4th, headway into 2nd home turn, led 3 out, pressed and pushed along 2 out, soon went clear, stayed on strongly, comfortably, won at Chepstow 2m (1) sft in Dec beating Saint Segal (11-0) by 8 1/2l, 11 ran.
Skycutter (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Handy, led on long run to 1st, headed and bad mistake 3 out, ridden and weakened 2 out, 8th of 11, 29 1/2l behind Porticello (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Tanganyika (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Made most, clear halfway, headed 2 out, stayed on one pace, 5th of 7, 8 1/4l behind Kyrov (11-2) at Auteuil 2m 1f hvy in Jun.
Cuban Cigar 7-1 (10-7) In touch, headway 2 out, hampered next, soon chased clear winner, ridden and stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Coolnaugh Haze (10-7) at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) gd in Jan.
