led, driven and headed 3 out, rallied under pressure, weakened after 2 out
tracked leader, pushed along 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up mid-division, headway halfway, led 3 out, ridden next, ran on well
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, tracked winner 2 out, soon ridden to challenge, weakened after last
tracked leaders, lost place before 4 out
mid-division, mistake 7th, chased leaders after 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, smooth headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened before last
held up in rear, tailed off approaching 3 out, pulled up before last
Alan King complicates matters by saddling both Karabak and Katchit and both have to be respected but ZAYNAR completed a hat-trick when landing the Triumph Hurdle in good style when last seen and he is taken to make a winning reappearance for the in-form Nicky Henderson. David Pipe's Lough Derg is more than capable of taking a hand in the finish in this contest on the best of his form but he was very disappointing on his return in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby last month and looks best watched at present. Elusive Dream was similarly well held on his return in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow last time but Paul Nicholls has his team in better form now. Karabak found just Mikael D'Haguenet too good in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle last season and would have solid claims if fit enough for his reappearance, while stable companion Katchit was not disgraced behind Punjabi in the Champion Hurdle but seemed not to stay this far at Aintree subsequently and a better bet looks to be Zaynar.
Lough Derg (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Led to before 9th, soon lost place, outpaced 4 out, no danger after, 4th of 6, 41l behind Fair Along (11-4) at Wetherby 3m 1f hdl G2 (1) gd in Oct.
Time For Rupert (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden and under pressure last, held on towards finish, won at Aintree 3m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr beating Inchidaly Rock (10-11) by hd, 21 ran.
Zaynar (FR) 11-2 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along briefly after 2nd, headway approaching 4th, challenging 2 out, soon led, pressed flat, edged left and stayed on well towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar beating Walkon (11-0) by 3/4l, 18 ran.
Karabak (FR) 13-8fav (11-4) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, not fluent 5th or 8th, headway next, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 4th of 15, 5l behind Ogee (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Elusive Dream 22-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, disputing well held 5th when blundered 4 out, weakened soon after, 10th of 14, well behind Mr Thriller (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 4f listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Oct.
Katchit (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along after 5th, lost place after next, behind from 8th, 12th of 15, 41l behind Solwhit (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl G1 (1) gs in Apr.
Red Moloney (USA) 11-8fav (11-5) Chased clear leader until 3 out, soon ridden, joined winner and every chance between final 2 flights, driven and awkward on landing last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Katies Tuitor (11-8) at Kempton 2m hdl (2) gf in Oct.
Straw Bear (USA) 6-4 (11-1) Held up, not fluent 6th, struggling 4 out, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 38l behind Somersby (11-1) at Warwick 2m nov chs (3) gd.
