tracked leaders, led 3 out, already headed and weakening when badly hampered 2 out
raced keenly, held up, smooth headway after 3 out, challenging when left in lead 2 out, quicken clear flat
in touch, driven along from 5th, badly outpaced 3 out, stayed on to challenge when left chasing winner 2 out, kept on but not pace of winner flat
never going well, always in rear, tailed off
held up in touch, effort and stayed on approaching 2 out, went 3rd last, kept on flat
held up, effort and ridden approaching 2 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, effort and narrow leader when fell heavily 2 out
led to 3 out, weakened before next
This race gives Rooster Booster a good chance of getting back to winning ways, with Royal Shakespeare, Rigmarole and Self Defense possibly proving to be his strongest rivals. The 2003 Champion Hurdle winner may not now be at his very best but he still retains plenty of ability, as his fifth in last month's Champion testifies. He is also still the best of these on official ratings and looks set to run a big race. Royal Shakespeare may not have fully lived up to expectations yet, but he remains a classy hurdler and it was no disgrace in failing to concede weight to the progressive Genghis last time. He can go well, as can Self Defense, who won the Agfa Hurdle over course and distance two runs ago and then finished twelfth in the Champion. A back-to-form Rigmarole would hold claims but his recent form lacks something, while Perouse and Tamarinbleu are capable of getting amongst the money if the principals as we see them put in below par efforts. That does not happen too often with Rooster Booster, who gets our vote in what is a good contest.
Rigmarole 22-1 Always behind, 8th of 13, 22l behind Genghis at Ayr 2m hcp hdl (A) gd.
Rooster Booster 16-1 Held up, effort on inside approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 9, 11l behind Al Eile at Aintree 2m 4f hdl Grd 1 (A) gs.
Self Defense 20-1 Held up in touch, pushed along after 5th, beaten approaching 2 out, 10th of 14, 13l behind Hardy Eustace at Cheltenham 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Copeland 10-1 Held up mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 4 out, one pace from next, 4th of 13, 11l behind Genghis at Ayr 2m hcp hdl (A) gd.
Medison (FR) 9-4fav Held up in rear, headway when stumbled 3 out, soon weakened, 13th of 18, 34l behind Definate Spectacle at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (A) gs.
Perouse 20-1 Mid-division, headway 3 out, every chance approaching last, weakened flat, 12th of 30, 18l behind Fontanesi at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Tamarinbleu (FR) 50-1 Held up, headway after 8th, ridden 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 20, 6l behind Genghis at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (A) gs.
Royal Shakespeare (FR) 13-2 Chased leaders, hit 4 out, ridden to chase winner from 2 out, kept on but no impression, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Genghis at Ayr 2m hcp hdl (A) gd.
Ilnamar (FR) 10-1 Tracked leader, led 5th, driven along approaching 2 out, headed before last and weakened, 4th of 11, 9l behind Lough Derg at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl (B) gd.
