jumped well, tracked leading pair, reached for 4th, closed approaching 3 out, 2nd approaching 2 out, just over 1 length down last, led soon after last, quickened readily clear run-in, impressive
hit 1st, raced keenly, tracked leader, led 3 out, driven after next, just over 1 length ahead when went badly right and stumbled last, soon headed and readily outpaced run-in
raced freely, led, hit 7th (water), hit 3 out and headed, lost 2nd approaching next, soon outpaced, weakened into 4th towards finish
held up last, outpaced when mistake 3 out, plugged on into modest 3rd towards finish
A high-class Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner at Cheltenham in March, ALTIOR made a pleasing start over fences at Kempton on his reappearance. He beat only one rival but made only one mistake in a fluent display of jumping and is the one to beat in this. Charbel also made a winning start over fences at Uttoxeter though was no match for Altior over hurdles and the same can be said of Marracudja, who has taken well to the larger obstacles winning both starts including at Cheltenham in October. Max Ward won on his chasing debut at Huntingdon though was a notch below these over timber.
Altior (IRE) 2-13fav (11-0) Jumped well, tracked leader and keen until led 3rd allowed to stride on and soon clear, hit 9th, hard held, won at Kempton 2m 2f (4) sft in Nov beating Black Corton (11-0) by dist, 2 ran.
Charbel (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Made all, pressed from 2 out, ridden before last, held on well towards finish, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m (3) gd in Oct beating Le Prezien (11-2) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Marracudja (FR) 3-1fav (11-7) Took keen hold, made all, not fluent 3 out or 2 out, driven flat, just held on, won at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct beating Presenting Arms (11-7) by nk, 8 ran.
Max Ward (IRE) 7-4 (11-3) Held up off the pace in 3rd, closed 4 out, led before 2 out, ran on, readily, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Querry Horse (11-0) by 4l, 3 ran.
