made all and jumped well, pushed along before 2 out, went clear between last two, reduced lead towards finish, unchallenged
bit keen tracking winner until 4th, outpaced on long run before 2 out, rallied run-in, went 3rd final 100 yards
tracked leading pair on inside, pushed along and went 2nd before 2 out, ridden and held between last two, lost 2nd at the last, weakened run-in
waited with in 4th, headway out wide at 7th, went 2nd next, pushed along and lost 2nd before 2 out, rallied and went 2nd again at the last, ridden and stayed on gamely run-in, always held
Indefatigable was only beaten half-a-length in this last year and has every chance of going one better as she was challenging when falling in a Grade 1 mares’ hurdle at Cheltenham last month. Scaramanga’s form doesn’t really compare and he might need this but his stablemate McFabulous was third in the Aintree Hurdle last time and has been campaigned at a high level. FUSIL RAFFLES hasn’t run over hurdles since finishing down the field in the 2020 Champion Hurdle but he is a Grade 1 winner over the smaller obstacles and won a Grade 2 over fences earlier in the campaign so might be a bit of value here.
McFabulous (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Chased leader, not fluent 5th, led before 3 out, pressed 2 out, soon headed and edged right, left in 2nd just after last, dropped to 3rd flat, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Epatante (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Fusil Raffles (FR) 9-2fav (11-8) Prominent, blundered and lost a few places 4th, 5th 4 out, no impression 3 out, modest 4th before 2 out until after last, 5th of 16, 26l behind Windsor Avenue (11-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Scaramanga (IRE) 50-1 (8-10) In touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 24th of 32, dist behind Buzz (8-13) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Indefatigable (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway on outside 6th, challenging going ok when fell 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gs in Mar.
