in touch, outpaced 4out, took modest 3rd next
with leader, ridden 4out, weakened next, last one fell at the last, remounted
in touch, led 3out, held on gamely flat
led, headed 3out, driven and kept on gamely from last
held up, driven 7th, out paced 4out, kept on flat
Nonrunner
BE BRIEF is a fascinating runner and he can account for stable companion, Mister McGoldrick and Prince Taime. Sue Smith muddies the waters somewhat with three runners in this race and Be Brief is the least exposed. There is the obvious question as to whether he will act on the ground or not but there has been a fair degree of promise in four starts thus far and he has only been guilty of running up against one or two class acts in the past. Mister McGoldrick is put over hurdles due to the handicapper's insistences over the larger obstacles. He has a couple of big days at Haydock in the past so don't be surprised to see him run another solid race. Prince Taime was third in the Imperial Cup at Sandown. The going should suit and it remains only a case of whether he gets the trip. Cybegenic was last seen out in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham where he made a bold bid for the first six furlongs. Theatre Diva is respected from a yard that is very much in form. Otage De Brion is another to gravitate back to hurdling from chasing. He did not handle the obstacles at Doncaster last month but his earlier hurdling efforts read well in the context of this race. Rightway Star is in a similar predicament. Coq Hardi stayed on well at Cheltenham in the Martin Pipe race without troubling the judge. Be Brief could be a decent price in this contest and he appears the value in a race where many have questions to answer.
Cybergenic (FR) 250-1 (11-10) Chased leaders on outside until before 4th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Punjabi (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs, 23 ran.
Rightway Star (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Prominent, reminder after 1st, mistake next, more reminders after 8th and before 10th, last when mistake 12th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Lightning Strike (11-5) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) gd in Feb, 5 ran.
Prince Taime (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd flat, never any chance with winner, 3rd of 19, 11l behind Dave's Dream (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd.
Flake 11-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 10th, ridden and headed 3 out, rallied approaching last, led again flat, driven out, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs beating De Boitron (10-7) by a hd, 6 ran.
Oniz Tiptoes (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Led, headed 9th, soon driven and weakened, 9th of 12, well behind Magical Legend (11-11) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Mister McGoldrick 40-1 (11-10) Prominent early, chased leaders from 5th, ridden after 4 out, weakened after next, 7th of 10, 18l behind Imperial Commander (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs Grd 1 (1) gs.
Otage De Brion (FR) 9-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent, in rear from 5th, weakened from 4 out, last of 4, well behind Tarotino (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd in Feb.
Coq Hardi (FR) 66-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden when hit 2 out, stayed on, 6th of 23, 23l behind Andytown (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs.
Theatre Diva (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Held up mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on approaching last, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Oscardeal (10-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
Nevertika (FR) 16-1 (10-13) In touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 14, 15l behind Oscardeal (10-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
Be Brief 9-4fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, headed before next, ridden and kept on same pace, no impression flat, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Time For Rupert (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Federstar (GER) 10-1 (10-11) Chased leader 2nd, joined leader after 10th, mistake and fell at the 12th in race won by Valley Ride (11-0) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs, 5 ran.
