tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd approaching 4th, challenged when hit 2 out, hard ridden flat, not quicken
made all, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, kept on gamely flat, held on well
in rear, not fluent 4th, soon tracking leading pair, weakened after 4 out, hit next, remote 3rd when fell 2 out
After what happened over the weekend then it would probably be best to take a watching brief in what is a prep race for the Champion Hurdle bid of ZAYNAR, who will be long odds-on to win in facile fashion, while Quewetwo and Open de L'Isle can battle out the runners-up spot. Much-vaunted, and understandably so, for the hurdling Blue Riband at next month's Cheltenham Festival, Zaynar has never been beaten in five hurdles in Britain, including victory in last year's Triumph Hurdle. Both his starts this term have seen him win impressively, the most recent in the Relkeel Hurdle, which proved that he gets beyond 2m 4f and handles soft ground. If there is one possible chink it is that he is untried on heavy going, but otherwise he should dot up here en route to the big one and his presence is a real treat for Kelso racegoers. Open de L'Isle loves bottomless ground and has enjoyed four of his six career wins when the going has been described thus. He has also got winning form here, so despite needing to find an official 3lbs with Quewewto we will take him to complete the forecast. Howard Johnson's gelding also acts with cut, though is unproven when it is quite so testing, and he also has fitness to prove after not being seen since twelfth of 14 in last season's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Festival. Tartan Snow also goes well here, on heavy ground, and stays further, so he could get involved, but Zaynar is a very confident choice.
Zaynar (FR) 1-5fav (11-6) Tracking leader when slightly hampered 2nd, 3rd from next, went 2nd after 4 out, shaken up to lead approaching last, came clear flat, eased near finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) sft in Dec beating Cape Tribulation (11-6) by 6l, 6 ran.
Kempski 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 11th of 15, well behind Tarabaloo (11-1) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Quwetwo 20-1 (11-7) Led, hit 3rd, soon headed, led after next, headed when hit 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, well behind when blundered 2 out, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Mikael D'haguenet (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Tartan Snow 20-1 (10-13) Held up, jumped slow 6th, ridden after next, soon outpaced, went moderate 3rd approaching 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Bedlam Boy (11-5) at Ayr 2m nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Open de L'Isle (FR) 5-1 (10-9) Made all, driven out, won at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec beating Leac An Scail (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
