raced on inside, chased leader until pushed along turning in, weakened before 2 out where bad mistake
mid-division on inside, steady headway 4th, 2nd going well turning in, led 2 out, 1 length ahead when left further clear at the last, ridden and stayed on well
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, edged right and no impression before 2 out,
led, raced freely and went clear after 2nd, hit next, pushed along reduced lead after 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened into 3rd between last two
chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, outpaced soon after, no danger after
held up towards rear, headway out wide chasing leaders before 3 out, weakened turning in
keen, steadied rear, never involved, tailed off
awkward 1st, chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
raced wide towards rear, awkward 4 out, chased leaders before next, weakened home turn
raced keenly, held up off the pace in last pair, smooth headway on inside tracking leaders after 3 out, 3rd before next, went 2nd between last two, keeping on and 1 length down when bad mistake last, not recover
well in rear, never a factor, tailed off
Knight Salute is 4-4 over hurdles including a defeat of Impulsive One here in October, though the latter is now 7lb better off. Milton Harris’ gelding did improve again in a Grade 2 at Doncaster, however, beating the Grade 1 winner Porticello who has won again since. But PLEASANT MAN could be a very smart recruit to hurdling and he’s the choice of Harry Cobden ahead of fellow newcomer Rubaud. A winner three times on the Flat up to 1m6f, it must be significant that the Galileo gelding is making his debut in a race like this. The Famous Five was a decent sort on the Flat in France and Moka De Vassy beat several previous winners when chasing home Triumph Hurdle favourite Pied Piper at Cheltenham. Graystone would have been on a four-timer but for a last-flight fall at Taunton but he’s not come up against opposition of this quality before.
Impulsive One (USA) 13-8jfav (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, ran on, readily, won at Musselburgh 2m lst (1) gs in Feb beating Innatendue (10-7) by 4l, 7 ran.
Knight Salute 4-1 (11-3) Waited with in 5th, went right and reached at 4th, steady headway on inside before 3 out, 3rd before next, went 2nd before the last, upsides last, soon quickened to lead, stayed on gamely run-in, rider unbalanced towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) gs in Dec beating Porticello (11-3) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Big Boy Bobby (IRE) 4-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 3 out, ridden and edged left before last, no impression flat, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Shallow River (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Graystone (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Made all, went clear with rival after 3rd, not fluent next, given breather after 4 out, quickened clear before next, stayed on well, kept up to work run-in, unchallenged, won at Wetherby 2m (4) gs in Jan beating Message Personnel (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Iroko (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden before 3 out, stayed on one pace, never got on terms, 4th of 11, 16 3/4l behind Porticello (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Moka De Vassy (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Always in rear, outpaced and struggling after 3 out, rallied out wide chasing leaders turning in, stayed on run-in, went 2nd final strides, no chance with impressive winner, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Pied Piper (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Jan.
Patient Dream (FR) 4-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway on inside 4th, challenged 2 out, led and not fluent last, soon went right and headed, weakened towards finish, 4th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Royle Steel (10-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Feb.
Pleasant Man 11-4 (9-4) In touch, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, driven to challenge entering final furlong, stayed on gamely to lead final strides, won at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Sep beating Marshall Plan (9-2) by hd, 6 ran.
Rubaud (FR) 12-1 (8-11) Settled in rear, no headway when ridden from 2f out, 7th of 9, 10l behind Bel Aristo (8-11) at Saint-Cloud 1m 6f lst stks sft in Oct.
Teddy Blue (GER) 11-4 (10-2) Not always fluent, mid-division on inside, pulled hard, mistake 3rd, headway 4th, led before 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 7 1/2l behind My Silver Lining (10-7) at Lingfield 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
The Famous Five (FR) 2-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden and led 1f out, driven out to hold on final furlong, won at Vichy 1m 2f stks sft in Aug beating Rock Joyeux (9-5) by shd, 7 ran.
