tracked leading pair, went 2nd 7th until after 4 out, 2nd again after 3 out, led before last, shaken up to draw clear flat, eased close home
chased leader who went clear until before 3rd, not fluent 6th, lost 2nd next, 2nd again after 4 out until after 3 out, weakening from next
settled nicely in last, hit 5th, not fluent 6th, closed 4 out, went 3rd from 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on flat, went 2nd final 50 yards, no impression on winner
held up in 4th, reached at 4 out, outpaced before 3 out, driven and no impression before 2 out, plugged on
held up in 5th, niggled along when not fluent 6th, last after next, well beaten before 3 out
led, clear until before 3rd, jumped right from 4 out, driven and headed before last, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd final 50 yards
This card is definitely one for the purists rather than the punters as BUVEUR D’AIR will be another likely to start at very short odds. The decision to put the six-year-old’s career over fences on hold has paid off handsomely as he travelled well and stayed on strongly to land last month’s Champion Hurdle ahead of evergreen stablemate My Tent Or Yours with The New One back in fifth. Nicky Henderson’s charge won the Grade 1 novice event at this meeting 12 months ago and is hard to oppose. Identity Thief was sixth in last year’s Champion Hurdle but behind My Tent Or Yours and The New One. He’s been chasing this season, with mixed success, and may no longer have the pace for this. Old Guard and Rashaan simply don’t look good enough.
Buveur D'Air (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Mid-division, closing when hit 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, driven and stayed on well flat, edged right and asserting inside final 100 yards, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar beating My Tent Or Yours (11-10) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Identity Thief (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Chased leader, 3rd from 2nd, moderate 3rd from 4th, close briefly after 4 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, no extra in 4th last, 4th of 5, 24 3/4l behind Great Field (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 1f Soft - Heavy in Mar.
My Tent Or Yours (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd last, stayed on flat but not able to trouble winner, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Buveur D'air (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Old Guard 20-1 (11-6) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders 2 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, never on terms, 7th of 25, 6 1/2l behind Supasundae (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Rashaan (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Raced in 4th, moderate 3rd from 3 out, soon pushed along and no impression, ran on well without threatening run-in, 3rd of 5, 5 1/4l behind Tombstone (11-1) at Gowran Park 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
The New One (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, hit 4th, hit 4 out and lost 2nd, 2nd again before 3 out until approaching 2 out, outpaced and no impression before last, stayed on again without threatening flat, 5th of 11, 10 1/2l behind Buveur D'air (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
