tracked leader, ridden and under pressure before 2 out, kept on one pace flat
held up, blundered 5th, ridden and out paced before 2 out, 6th jumping last, ran on again flat
led at steady pace until headed 6th, tracked winner until before 2 out, weakened before last
held up behind clear leaders, effort and not fluent 2 out, hard driven and mistake last, one paced flat
pulled hard behind, headway and led 6th, made remainder, ridden clear flat
chased winner before 2 out, kept on but chance with winner
pulled hard in rear, ridden and lost touch from 2 out, never dangerous
One of the best juvenile novices' hurdles seen this season with several Triumph Hurdle contenders putting their reputations on the line. Alan King's Mughas, a useful middle distance maiden on the flat in Ireland with Kevin Prendergast, made a pleasing debut over hurdles when running out an impressive winner at Warwick. The son of Sadler's Wells had to work harder to beat Indien Royal at Plumpton subsequently. With both of those successes coming under heavy ground, he may not be suited by the faster conditions here and is probably best left out of calculations. Martin Pipe's Well Chief, who had group race form on the flat in Germany did not beat much on his debut at Taunton and remains unexposed. However, in a race as tough as this, he may struggle to follow up. Jonjo O'Neill's East Tycoon went into many people's notebooks when cosily beating another Pipe horse Mirant at Doncaster last month and, with ground conditions to suit, he will be popular with many but the selection has to be Saintsaire. Nicky Henderson's gelding was the subject of good reports prior to his debut success at Newbury in December when having the likes of Vanormix and Starzaan (both winners since) behind. A negative in the ring when third to Moneytrain and Don Fernando at Cheltenham subsequently, that form is still the best on offer here and we take the French-bred to return to winning ways on ground that will suit. Duke Of Earl is the best of the remainder.
