held up in 4th, headway on inside to 3rd before 2 out, chased winner between last 2 and every chance last, lost 2nd and weakened flat
led at decent pace, clear when slow and reduced lead 2nd, ridden and joined when hit 3 out, soon headed, lost 2nd next, edged left under pressure and weakened before last
chased leading pair, ridden pushed left and stumbled 2 out, outpaced soon after
chased clear leader, closed 2nd, challenged 3 out, soon led, ridden and strongly pressed last, stayed on strongly flat
held up last, good headway to chase leaders and went left 2 out, driven to chase winner flat and stayed on but always held
The Fighting Fifth now re-arranged from Newcastle sees the return to action of the Champion Hurdle winner BINOCULAR, who if in the same heart as at Cheltenham should make a winning return to action. Nicky Henderson's gelding was bitterly disappointing early on last season though and he may not be one to take too short of a price about with a return to the festival the ultimate aim this term. Starluck is comfortably held on running at Cheltenham last term and a bigger threat may come from Donald McCain's Peddlers Cross, who has done nothing wrong so far having won every start be it in points, bumpers or over hurdles. This represents another step up in class following his wins at Cheltenham and Aintree but he is still unexposed. Nearby looks the best of the remainder.
Binocular (FR) 9-1 (11-10) Held up, improved into 5th approaching 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, led going well soon after next, ran on strongly flat, won at Cheltenham 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar beating Khyber Kim (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Bygones of Brid (IRE) 4-7fav (11-0) Took keen hold, left pressing leader 1st, ridden after 2 out, 4th and weakening when pulled up before last, in a race won by Best Lover (10-11) at Hexham 2m nov chs (3) hvy, 5 ran.
Nearby 11-2 (10-5) Chased clear leaders, closed up 4th, chased leaders after 3 out, led 2 out, driven clear from last, stayed on strongly, won at Wincanton 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gd beating Tito Bustillo (10-4) by 6l, 10 ran.
Peddlers Cross (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders and keen, led approaching 2 out, not fluent last, ridden flat, kept on well, won at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Apr beating Duke Of Lucca (11-4) by 2l, 9 ran.
Starluck (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear on outside, headway to go 5th approaching last, no impression on leaders, 5th of 12, 12l behind Binocular (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
