took keen hold, held up in touch, fell heavily 4th
held up in 5th, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, every chance before last, kept on under impression run-in
held up in rear but in touch, steady headway to track leaders going well when left 2nd 2 out, challenged between horses, led and hit last ridden and always just doing enough run-in
slight lead, headed 3 out, weakened, left moderate 4th and hampered 2 out, no chance when fell last
took keen hold, tracking leaders, led 3 out, slight lead when fell 2 out
chased leaders, joined leader 3 out, challenging when left in narrow lead 2 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, rallied towards finish but always held
with leader, ridden and weakened before 2 out where slightly hampered
This is PIERROT LUNAIRE'S kind of track and assuming it stays on the good side, he can take the top prize ahead of podium-bound Snap Tie and Punjabi. Although the selection has plenty to find on official ratings with the top-rated (Punjabi, just), he is open to plenty of improvement. He was weakening and beaten when falling last time at Aintree. The ground had gone against him however, and he is better judged on his close second to Binocular last February at the track and his subsequent trouncing of Blue Bajan at Aintree. Punhjabi has been one of the revelations of the season. Nicky Henderson's well-built gelding progressed on the flat over the summer after a 3rd in the Champion Hurdle, and won on his comeback at Wetherby. He has a massive future, but a flat track does not play to his strengths. Harchibald must be high on any shortlist; a fine advert for Noel Meade over the past five years, he will love the ground if on the quick side and is unlikely to be far away. Snap Tie beat Katchit at the track last time but so have several since; he is open to more improvement though and showed he was one of the leading Novices last season with a third in the Supremes. Straw Bear won this narrowly last year, beating Harchibald, but it was a small field and a poor renewal on the face of it, whilst Afsoun has been a nearly horse in the past and showed he retains all of his attitude with a disastrous run over fences at Fakenham last time. Blue Bajan will like this track and ground and must be another to consider, but in an intriguing Christmas Hurdle, it is Pierrot Lunaire who can shine brightest.
Afsoun (FR) 4-11fav (11-5) Led, clear when fell at the 6th in race won by Kings Quay (10-13) at Fakenham 2m nov chs (3) sft, 5 ran.
Blue Bajan (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) In touch, effort 2 out, driven and one pace flat, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Punjabi (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft.
Harchibald (FR) 11-4 (11-12) Raced in 4th, 3rd after 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, dropped to 4th again from before last, 4th of 6, 11l behind Punjabi (11-12) at Punchestown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Pierrot Lunaire (USA) 2-5fav (11-6) Led after 4th, headed after 4 out, every chance 2 out, 2 lengths down fell at the last in race won by Squadron (11-2) at Aintree 2m 4yo hdl (2) sft in Oct, 5 ran.
Punjabi 8-11fav (11-7) Tracked leader, ridden to lead after 2 out, headed briefly last, rallied to lead near line, won at Wetherby 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft beating Sublimity (11-7) by a hd, 6 ran.
Snap Tie (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Chased leaders, headway 5th, challenge and awkward 2 out, led last, driven and kept on well flat, won at Kempton 2m hdl (2) gd in Oct beating Katchit (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Straw Bear (USA) 2-1 (11-0) Held up behind leaders, hit 7th, went 3rd next, mistake and weakened 3 out, hit next and soon eased, 3rd of 5, 30l behind Pasco (11-0) at Newbury 2m 1f nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place approaching 9th, 9th of 11, 50l behind Laskari (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft.
