in touch in rear, pushed along 3 out, ridden and stayed on flat, not trouble leaders
tracked leaders, headway 3 out, every chance next, led approaching last, ridden and edged right towards finish
close up, mistake 4 out, ridden 2 out, weakened next
led, headed 2nd, led again 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, edged left flat, lost 2nd close home
in touch in rear, pushed along 2 out, kept on same pace
raced wide, prominent, led 2nd, hit 5th, headed 3 out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd close home
Paul Nicholls won this in 2020 with a recruit from France and AFADIL is a similar type. The latter landed the odds at Taunton on last month’s hurdling debut despite showing signs of his inexperience and the Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle entry gets the vote. Fils De Roi was beaten when falling in a Grade 2 at Chepstow but The Churchill Lad finished a creditable fourth in the same race. Shared made a winning hurdling bow at Wetherby while both Bringbackmemories and Freddy Robinson scored over track and trip last time.
Freddy Robinson 11-2 (11-0) Waited with in last pair, closer out wide 5th, travelling well after next, went 2nd 2 out, led before the last, clear and kept up to work run-in, won at Musselburgh 2m (2) sft in Dec beating Super Stars (11-0) by 8l, 6 ran.
Afadil (FR) 8-15fav (10-9) Led, veered badly left and hampered rival 1st, wen left again and headed next, chased leader who soon went clear, closer at 5th, led out wide turning in, drew clear run in, hard held, won at Taunton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan beating Mammies Boy (11-8) by 2l, 9 ran.
Bringbackmemories (FR) 13-8fav (11-0) Travelled strongly, prominent, good headway to lead 3 out, ridden to extend advantage 2 out, went further clear last, easily, won at Musselburgh 2m (4) sft in Jan beating Cabrakan (11-7) by 15l, 8 ran.
Fils De Roi (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Soon led, awkward 3rd, not fluent 5th or 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, gradually fading when fell last, at Chepstow 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Shared 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 6th, led after normal 2 out, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Jan beating Chicago Gal (10-7) by 2l, 11 ran.
The Churchill Lad (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Handy, pushed along 3 out, kept on, ridden and no extra before last, 4th of 9, 9 3/4l behind Comfort Zone (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (1) sft in Dec.
