held up in touch in rear, ridden from 4 out, lost touch from next
tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, ridden 3 out, dropped to 3rd 2 out, no extra straight
tracked leader in 2nd, led from 5th, ridden from 2 out and soon strongly pressed, headed before last, no impression on easy winner run-in
led, bad mistake 1st and reminder, headed 5th, weakened from 8th, tailed off from 3 out
held up in touch in rear, went 4th 3 out, soon ridden, kept on without threatening in 3rd from 2 out
tracked leaders, close 2nd travelling well on outer 2 out, led on bridle before last, stayed on strongly run-in, very easily
Solwhit is beginning to look a genuine class act over 3m and followed up his victory in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham by beating Holywell in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. Both of those were Grade 1 events and Charles Byrnes' stable star will be fancied to complete his hat-trick here, despite then presence of brilliant mare Quevega. She had to weave her way through a wall of horses to win a fifth David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham after meeting trouble in-running and has also won this for the last three seasons. She was behind Solwhit in the Champion Hurdle here in 2009, but that was over 2m and there shouldn't be much to choose the pair today. REVE DE SIVOLA was forced to make his own running in the World Hurdle and couldn't quicken approaching the last. But the softer ground here is very much in his favour and he showed himself to be a top-class stayer when winning the Long Walk Hurdle and Cleeve Hurdle earlier. He may just be the value in the race if held up this time. Zaidpour is a Grade 1 winner but has been beaten again since pulling up at Cheltenham and may have had enough for the season, though is still preferred to the Mullins' other runner Fiveforthree and fellow veteran Whatuthink.
Fiveforthree (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Towards rear, headway 4 out, challenged after 2 out, every chance last, soon ridden, kept on flat, 3rd of 28, 2 1/4l behind Medinas (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Holywell (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Prominent, chased winner last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Solwhit (11-7) at Aintree 3m hdl G1 (1) gs.
Reve De Sivola (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Led to after 1st, tracked leader, driven 4 out, not fluent next, lost place 2 out, stayed on to chase clear pair flat, lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 13, 6l behind Solwhit (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Whatuthink (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, 6th and pushed along 5 out, rear and ridden next, kept on one pace, 6th of 9, 24l behind Blazing Beacon (10-3) at Wexford 2m 3f hcp chs (10yo+) hvy in Mar.
Zaidpour (FR) 6-4fav (11-10) Waited with and 4th halfway, pushed along in 3rd entering straight and tried to challenge 2 out, ridden and no impression on winner from before last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Dressedtothenines (10-13) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hdl G2 (1).
Quevega (FR) 8-11fav (11-5) Mid-division, stumbled and lost place after 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, ridden and rallied before last, stayed on to lead final 75 yards, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) sft in Mar beating Sirene D'ainay (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 19 ran.
Solwhit (FR) 9-4fav (11-7) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, led on bit before last, shaken up and soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Aintree 3m hdl G1 (1) gs beating Holywell (11-7) by 3l, 13 ran.
