held up in rear, not fluent 1st, chased clear leading pair 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, lost 3rd approaching last
held up, took keen hold, not fluent 4 out, jumped left and mistake 3 out, went 3rd approaching last, never dangerous
held up, struggling after 4th, always behind
chased clear leading pair until 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, well behind from 7th
jumped right, took keen hold, led approaching 2nd, mistake next, headed 3 out, soon beaten
led until approaching 2nd, tracked leader, led 3 out, clear from next, easily
Signatory is surely better than he showed when pulled up at Exeter last month after making several mistakes but it is hard to back Jonjo O'Neill's gelding following that effort and a better bet looks to be RECIF DE THAIX, who gets the vote ahead of Songe. Charlie Longsdon's gelding won Haydock's Champion Hurdle Trial in January but did not progress as much as may have been anticipated after that effort. Disappointing on his chasing debut on his reappearance, the five-year-old would have claims if able to reproduce the pick of his hurdles form but he is hard to back on recent evidence. King Caine was claimed out of the stable of Paul Nicholls after winning at Taunton when last seen in February and now makes his belated debut for Alan Jones. Victor Dartnell's Hide The Evidence has disappointed in both starts over fences and is hard to back with confidence after those recent runs with a better bet looking to be Recif De Thaix. The four-year-old showed progressive form in bumpers for Paul Nicholls before making an encouraging first start over fences when third behind Rory Boy at Warwick last month and he can build on that effort and open his account over the larger obstacles today.
Hide The Evidence (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Narrow lead when not fluent, went right slipped and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Manorson (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m beg chs (4) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
King Caine (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and challenged approaching 2 out, joined leader last, led flat, driven out, won at Taunton 2m 1f clm hdl (5) hvy in Feb beating Mount Benger (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Pingaro De La Vire (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Always in rear, ridden and weakened 5 out, 6th of 7, well behind Awesome George (10-12) at Ascot 2m 5f beg chs (3) gd in Nov.
Procas de Thaix (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, mistake 6th, soon beaten, slight mistake when unseated rider last, in a race won by You're The Top (11-0) at Kempton 2m nov chs (3) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Signatory (USA) 14-1 (11-11) Never travelling in rear, tailed off 8th (5 out), pulled up before next, in a race won by Pavillon Bleu (10-8) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Songe (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Tracked winner and keen, 2 lengths down in 2nd when blundered 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 10, 20l behind Fiendish Flame (11-2) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Recif De Thaix (FR) 5-2 (10-10) Took keen hold, disputed lead to 3 out, still every chance on outside 2 out, soon ridden and weakened before last, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Rory Boy (11-1) at Warwick 2m 4yo nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
