led, clear 4th, headed 8th, weakened quickly, moderate 4th when fell 3 out
tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, pecked 6th, led 8th, ridden after 3 out, kept on, driven out
held up behind leading trio, went 3rd after 5th, chased winner after 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace
chased leading pair until after 5th, hit 6th and 7th, soon weakened, left poor 4th 3 out
Pirate Flagship and Senorita Rumbalita look set to dominate the betting here with the former preferred. A three-time winning hurdler that achieved a rating of 128 over the smaller obstacles, Pirate Flagship looks the one to beat for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh. Senorita Rumbalita, whose rating was even higher at its best on 132, rates as a very strong and obvious opponent. A 118-rated winning hurdler in May, Enhancer could prove best of the rest, but the vote stays with Pirate Flagship.
Albarino (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened 2 out, 7th of 8, 18l behind Cream Cracker (10-9) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Aug.
Enhancer 7-1 (11-12) Held up, headway after 4th, weakened well before 2 out, 11th of 12, 42l behind Siegfrieds Night (10-9) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Jun.
Pirate Flagship (FR) 2-5fav (11-8) Led to after 2nd, pressed leaders, hit 4th, ridden 2 out, stayed on to lead last, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl (2) gd in Apr beating Linnet (10-6) by 4l, 6 ran.
Senorita Rumbalita 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, never dangerous, 16th of 21, 44l behind Acambo (10-4) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in May.
Don Castille (USA) 25-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, 8th 6f out, no extra from 4f out, 13th of 21, 30l behind Nesserian (11-7) at Punchestown 2m nhf gd in Apr.