tracked leader to 5 out, kept on to regain 2nd after last, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, blundered 1st, soon lost place in rear, reminder after 2nd, struggling from next, tailed off
led, headed after 3 out, no extra and lost 2nd place after last
tracked leaders, went 2nd 5 out, led after 3 out, clear before last
in touch in 4th, mistake 6 out, blundered 4 out, soon weakened
ONE TRACK MIND won the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown in April and is held in high regard. He'll have had plenty of schooling ahead of his fencing bow and is already been targeted at the RSA Chase next March. The four-year-olds Protek Des Flos and Clan Des Obeaux may give him most to think about with their weight-for-age allowance. The former beat the latter in a Grade2 over hurdles at Cheltenham in January, though only by a length-and-a-quarter. Virgilio is useful but had his limitations exposed last time at Wincanton and carries a penalty. Our Kaempfer was beaten in a match here last time after a promising second at Chepstow.
Virgilio (FR) 7-4 (11-8) Pressed leader, pushed along when hit 13th and lost 2nd, soon outpaced and struggling, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up, at Wincanton 2m 4f (1) gd in Nov.
One Track Mind (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Chased leader in 2nd, pushed along briefly before 9th, on terms 10th, led approaching straight, soon strongly pressed, stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 3m (1) Yielding in Apr beating Jennies Jewel (11-3) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Our Kaempfer (IRE) 1-2fav (11-7) Not always fleunt, chased winner throughout, pecked 13th, held when not fluent 2 out, last of 2, 6l behind Bigbadjohn (11-7) at Newbury 2m 6f (3) gd in Nov.
Clan Des Obeaux (FR) 7-4fav (10-3) In touch, on outside, effort 3 out, stayed on and every chance when not fluent last, ridden and one pace flat, just failed for 3rd, 4th of 6, 3 3/4l behind Rock The Kasbah (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f (2) gd in Oct.
Protek Des Flos (FR) (10-10) 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Saint Goustan Blue (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 2f sft in Mar.
