took keen hold and never fluent, tracked leading pair until jumped slowly 1st, not fluent next, awkward 5th, 3rd before 3 out, pushed along and challenged 2 out, soon driven and not pace of leading duo
led until narrowly headed 3 out, chased winner until before 2 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out
took keen hold, held up in last pair, smooth headway into 4th before 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, ridden before last, upsides and every chance run-in, just failed
took keen hold, held up in rear, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next
chased leader until 4 out, chased leading pair until weakened before next, soon behind, tailed off
tracked leading pair 1st, hit 5th, went left next, 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, blundered last, strongly pressed and edged right under pressure run-in, held on gamely, all out
This is an intriguing start as the majority of these are still open to plenty of improvement. Inner Drive won very easily at Huntingdon on his hurdling debut following a lengthy break. Coologue made it third-time lucky at Bangor in December while Taunton bumper winner Going For Broke is an interesting newcomer in the J P McManus colours. CHAMPAGNE EXPRESS (NAP) beat Wednesday's easy Warwick winner King's Odyssey on his hurdles bow and it was another 14 lengths back to Leave It Be, who won a handicap here on his next start off a mark of 120. Barry Geraghty's mount can follow up as Rock The Kasbah is in danger of becoming disappointing.
Champagne Express 3-1 (11-1) Took keen hold, not fluent 1st, chased leading pair, 2nd before 4 out, left in clear lead 3 out, pushed along and kept on well run-in, won at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb beating King's Odyssey (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Coologue (IRE) 5-4 (11-0) Made all, mistake 5th, not fluent 7th, clear last, ridden out, won at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Ma du Fou (11-0) by 14l, 8 ran.
Inner Drive (IRE) 11-8fav (11-2) Took keen hold in mid-division, smooth headway halfway, chased leaders before 4 out, led 2 out, not fluent last, ran on strongly, impressive, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft beating Thedrinkymeister (11-2) by 14l, 11 ran.
Going For Broke (IRE) 5-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced in 3rd over 2f out, rallied inside final furlong, stayed on to lead narrowly final strides, won at Taunton 2m 1f mdn nat hunt flat (5) sft in Dec beating Ritual Of Senses (11-7) by hd, 10 ran.
Iora Glas (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway before 2 out, kept on run-in, nearest at finish, 4th of 13, 7l behind Baths Well (11-5) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Rock The Kasbah (IRE) 2-7fav (10-12) Chased winner throughout, pushed along before 2 out, soon no impression, ridden and no response run-in, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Wychwoods Brook (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
