keen, held up in touch, mistake 4th, led on bit approaching 2 out, soon clear, comfortable
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up in touch, 4th when blundered 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up, headway joined leader 4th, ridden and weakened over 2 out
keen, held up, headway 3rd to chase leader, steadied 4 out, mistake last, kept on flat
keen, held up in rear, ridden over 2 out, stayed on flat, took 2nd near finish
pulled hard, led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened flat, eased near finish and lost 2nd
Be Fair looks to be in a different league to his rivals here and is given a confident vote to oblige, with Pharbeit and Gilbert White looking most likely to scrap out the finish for minor honours. Three times successful in National Hunt flat races last season, the selection was thought good enough to take his chance in the Championship Bumper at Cheltenham and, although disappointing there, a subsequent second at Aintree suggests he did not give his true running at the Festival meeting. Don Cantillon's five-year-old makes his hurdling debut today and, in this company, it will be a surprise if he does not make a winning start to his new career. Pharbeit showed signs of ability, without winning in bumpers but the biggest danger to the selection is Sparkling Water. Rated 106 at his best on the flat when with Henry Cecil, he makes his hurdling debut for new connections here but it is difficult to know how much ability he retains and it could be significant that the Warren Place master has let him leave his yard.
