raced wide in mid-division, closer on outside tracking leaders 5th, weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway on inside before 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
led until 5th, chased leaders, weakened rapidly 4 out, pulled up soon after
pulled hard in mid-division, headway tracking leaders 4th, pulled way into lead next, made rest, clear approaching 3 out, hit next, stayed on strongly
held up towards rear, good headway chasing leaders approaching 5th, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced after 4 out, plugged on before last
always towards rear, never involved
mid-division, weakened before 4 out
never better than mid-division on inside, behind and struggling after 4 out
held up towards rear, smooth headway tracking leaders after 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out
always towards rear
shade keen tracking leaders, 3rd and one pace from 2 out, blundered last
held up last, headway on inside approaching 3 out, modest 4th 2 out, well held when mistake last
chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, weakened before next
chased leader, chased winner from after 5th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on same pace, never able to challenge
Champ will be popular in this making his handicap debut. He won at Perth and Warwick in May having run the unbeaten Vinndication to a neck on his hurdling debut. Speedo Boy, in good form in staying races on the Flat this year, made a successful return to hurdling at Cheltenham but was raised 6lb for that. Barters Hill was a Champion Hurdle prospect at one time but injuries have blighted his career and he’ll be nine in a month’s time. Air Horse One found 2m too short in the Elite Hurdle and he’ll strip fitter here while the four-year-old Sussex Ranger should also have benefited from a comeback run. Who's My Jockey is probably back over his best trip but is closely matched with the more-consistent SLEEP EASY, who deserves a change of luck and gets a tentative vote. Padleyourowncanoe makes most appeal of the remainder ahead of Le Musee.
Air Horse One 33-1 (11-0) Mistakes in rear, tailed off when went left 3 out, last of 7, dist behind Verdana Blue (10-11) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) gd in Nov.
Boite (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders after 3 out, struggling in 5th when mistake 2 out, 5th of 13, 18 1/4l behind Younevercall (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Barters Hill (IRE) 15-8fav (11-9) Led, hit 6th, headed 3 out, ridden before next, weakened quickly, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Talkischeap (11-0) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Champ (IRE) 1-3fav (11-4) Keen, held up, steady headway after 5th, 3rd next (4 out), led going well 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Warwick 2m 5f (4) gs in May beating Merry Milan (11-4) by 10l, 7 ran.
Golden Birthday (FR) 40-1 (12-1) Held up towards rear, mistake 4 out, headway when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 18th of 20, 32 3/4l behind First Assignment (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Padleyourowncanoe 7-1 (10-12) Held up behind front pair, closed 4 out, ridden and not quicken before last, kept on flat, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Pearl Of The West (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
Who's My Jockey (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Mid-division, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, never involved, 10th of 14, 24 1/4l behind Jersey Bean (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Sussex Ranger (USA) 14-1 (11-6) Led until after 2nd, remained prominent, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Fidux (11-2) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Potters Story 9-4 (10-13) In touch, headway before 3 out, led before 2 out, kept on well, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Rayvin Black (11-12) by 21l, 6 ran.
Sleep Easy 5-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, went 2nd approaching last, not pace of winner, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Vive Le Roi (10-9) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Big Chief Benny (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Chased leaders on inside, hit 7th, not fluent 2 out, weakening when blundered last, 10th of 15, 8 1/2l behind Doesyourdogbite (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Speedo Boy (FR) 4-1jfav (10-7) Mid-division, tracked leaders going well before last (usual 2 out), led over 1f out, ridden out, kept on (2 flights omitted), won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Mahlervous (10-8) by 1l, 14 ran.
Man Of Plenty 33-1 (10-0) Behind, badly hampered and almost unseated rider 2 out (usual 3 out), never able to challenge, 10th of 18, 13 1/2l behind Nietzsche (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Vaziani (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place after 3 out, well beaten next, 7th of 20, 17 3/4l behind Totterdown (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Le Musee (FR) 25-1 (10-11) In rear, driven after 2 out (usual 3 out), switched inside and headway over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, never a threat, 9th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Speedo Boy (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
