held up in touch, headway and hit 3 out, pressed leader next, slight lead last, edged right and ran on flat, , driven out
led after 2nd, headed approaching 2 out, weakened quickly
held up, headway 7th, led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on well
chased leaders, hit 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders to 8th, soon weakened,
held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
in touch, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
always behind, held off and pulled up before 2 out
led, headed after 2nd, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
This looks set to be a very interesting and entertaining race, not featuring any previous course and distance winners. Supreme Prince will clearly be the one to beat. He has been rested since trouncing Priest's Bridge to win the Grade 2 Persian War Novices' Hurdle on 9 November. He is unbeaten so far and should win despite giving away so much weight around an unfamiliar course. After making such a promising debut in a Wincanton bumper in November, Toulouse won his hurdling bow at Taunton next time. He was just outpaced into fifth place around Wincanton last month, and will wear blinkers for the first time to aid his concentration. He should do well, although this is a big step up in class. Henrietta Knight has a pair in this race. Jim Culloty has the ride on Rosslea who finished a close second to a Jonjo O'Neill-trained favourite last time out after falling on his hurdling debut. His stablemate Glashedy Rock and was beaten just four lengths last time at Doncaster. Neither of this duo can be ruled out of contention if they can build on those results. Tourniquet is relatively unexposed and was unsuited by the heavy ground last time out at Chepstow after making a solid hurdling bow at Warwick in November. He's certainly one to watch. Watch The Dove was third to Thisthatandtother at Wincanton on 9 November and has since found just one better than him in two races. This represents a hike in class and trip for him, but he cannot be ignored. Paul Nicholls sends Wild Knight, who has been rested since finishing fourth at Chepstow in December; he should have grown in confidence for that run.
