held up in rear, fell 5th
held up in rear, took keen hold, hit 2nd, headway 4th, hit 6th, weakened 3 out
pressed leader to 3rd, remained prominent, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up soon after
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, hit 6th, struggling 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 4th flat, never dangerous
took keen hold, soon in touch, blundered badly 6th, weakening when hit 2 out
chased leaders, jumped slowly 3rd, went 2nd before 3 out, led last, stayed on well flat
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, went 3rd approaching last, no impression on front pair
mid-division, hampered 6th, headway next, weakened approaching last
prominent, pulled hard, led 3rd, hit 6th, soon headed, hit next, weakened 3 out
raced keenly, led to 3rd, led after 6th, headed last, stayed on flat but no impression on winner
If able to reproduce the best of his hurdling abilities over the bigger obstacles then AFSOUN could be thrown in here, and although he does have a bit to prove now and we prefer him to stablemate Pepsyrock, while Consigliere is much respected. The last-named blundered away his chance at Cheltenham when still going well enough last time, and while these fences take plenty of jumping there are no such evils in them as the Old Course's second-last. He goes well over the minimum trip and on soft ground, and he has a great attitude, so a win would be no great surprise. Afsoun was rated as high as 163 when seventh behind Katchit in the 2008 Champion Hurdle, and he rather lost his way in that sphere last season. He won't mind the ground, and should retain plenty of speed, while his CV shows that he has already had the measure of the useful Oh Crick over fences. He is a very interesting runner here, goes very well when fresh, and if he is fully wound up then he might just make a mockery of his current mark of 145. Pepsyrock won three of his last four starts in the spring and has gone up a searching 10lbs for the last of those at Ayr. Conditions won't be a problem to him, but that extra weight might be, and he has never yet won when fresh, which is a concern. Old boy Gaelic Flight will be a safe conveyance for Wayne Kennedy but would prefer faster ground, while Doctor David was not too far behind Afsoun in that Warwick race mentioned, and as a confirmed soft ground performer he could run a big race. Song Of Songs might prefer it here to Cheltenham, but he has an awful lot to find on running there with Consigliere, while there should again be little to choose between Huguenot and Vinmix De Bessy. Even so, there is no substitute for class and Afsoun has more of that than most here, so he is selected.
Afsoun (FR) 100-1 (11-10) Mid-division, lost place 8th, well behind 3 out, tailed off, last of 14, well behind Big Buck's (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Doctor David 6-1 (11-8) Close up, led 3rd, headed and mistake 2 out, soon weakened, last of 4, 23l behind Schelm (11-1) at Bangor 2m 1f grad ch (2) sft.
Medicinal (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, detached 5th, tailed off from 10th, 7th of 8, well behind Albertas Run (11-1) at Ascot 2m 3f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gd.
Song of Songs 8-1 (11-12) Held up in last, blundered 5th, hit 3 out, soon well beaten, last of 7, 27l behind French Opera (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Pepsyrock (FR) 9-4fav (10-4) Towards rear, headway from 8 to track leaders approaching 4 out, going well and led approaching 2 out, driven out flat, won at Ayr 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Apr beating Beggars Cap (10-0) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Consigliere (FR) 7-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, disputing third but under pressure when blundered 2 out, beaten last, one pace flat, 3rd of 7, 8l behind French Opera (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Gaelic Flight (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, headway to lead approaching last, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Oscar Bay (11-9) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct.
Vinmix De Bessy (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, slight peck 2 out, 3 lengths down last, stayed on well flat, led final strides, won at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs beating Huguenot (11-6) by nk, 6 ran.
Huguenot (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Soon with leader, led 4th, 3 lengths clear and travelling well when hit last, no extra towards finish, headed final strides, 2nd of 6, nk behind Vinmix De Bessy (11-5) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Mam Ratagan 7-2 (11-5) Led 2nd, pressed 3 out, headed flat, one pace, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Seven Is My Number (11-5) at Worcester 2m beg chs (4) gd in Sep.
