held up, headway to go prominent 4th, joined leader 2 out, driven and led flat
in rear, blundered 4 out, behind and pulled up 2 out
in touch, led after 3rd, headed 4 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace
held up, ridden and lost touch from 4 out
keen in touch, ridden 4th, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 4 out
held up, ridden and some headway from 2 out, never dangerous
keen, prominent, led 4 out, joined 2 out, headed and no extra flat
held up, behind, pulled up 2 out
tracked leaders,ridden 3 out, soon weakened
led, headed after 3rd, remained in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
keen, always in rear
mid-division, ridden 5th, soon weakened
mistake 1st, keen, held up mid-division, reminders after 3rd not touch leaders
in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
This looks a strong division of the novice hurdle and a narrow vote is given to I'm So Lucky with Buster Hyvonen and Et Maintenant put forward as the main dangers. I'm So Lucky, a Listed Royal Ascot winner, shaped with distinct promise on this hurdling debut. Nothing looked to be going better around the home bend. However he eased into the second-last, costing him ground, but picked up again after the last and just caught today's rival Buster Hyvonen for third. He is slightly better off at the weights with that rival today and should confirm the form with improvement almost guaranteed. Et Maintenant looks the pick of the newcomers as he won well over a mile and half in France and hails from a top yard more than capable of getting one ready first time out. Go Solo has shown enough to warrant plenty of respect and may do best of the others, however we expect I'm So Lucky progress from his debut and he can land the spoils.
Buster Hyvonen (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, steady headway from 5th, chased leading pair 2 out, no impression approaching last, 4th of 18, 15l behind Duc De Regniere (11-0) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Et Maintenant (FR) (9-0) won at Montier-En-der 1m 3f stk gd in Jul beating Miami Moon (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran (Flat).
Gagarin (FR) 66-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, lost position rapidly over 3f out, tailed off, last of 14, 35l behind Majehar (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2f banded stk (7) pol in Oct (Flat).
Go Solo 25-1 (10-12) Chased leader, ridden after 3 out, soon one pace, 4th of 16, 33l behind Amaretto Rose (10-5) at Ascot 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Hear Me Out (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 4th, improved into 3rd halfway, 4th when pecked 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, 4th of 11, 11l behind Robert (11-6) at Galway 2m 4f nov hdl gf in Jul '05.
I'm So Lucky 14-1 (11-0) Close up, shaken up approaching 2 out, one pace approaching last, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 18, 15l behind Duc De Regniere (11-0) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Kingdom of Dreams (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) In touch, left 4th when one pace 2 out, 4th of 16, 29l behind Pevensey (10-9) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Ouragan De Prairie (FR) (10-3) won at Paray-Le-monial 1m 4f stk gd in Sept beating Orlie (9-6) by 3/4l, 11 ran (Flat).
