held up in touch, mistake 3 out, led approaching next, headed last, soon outpaced
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, soon headed and under pressure, gradually weakened
held up in rear, headway 3 out, led last, soon ridden, kept on well
held up in touch, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
held up in touch, mistake 5th, chased leaders after 3 out, mistake 2nd last, soon beaten
held up towards rear, jumped left 4th, headway 2 out, stayed on strongly after last, not reach winner
led until after 3 out, soon weakened
BINOCULAR can gain his revenge upon Go Native. The selection was undoubtedly disappointing at Newcastle but the slow pace counted against him and it's also worth considering that he was racing someway earlier of his original seasonal debut target and that plenty had been left to work on. Go Native cannot be crabbed for taking his opportunity with both hands. He has not really received the credit he deserved for his victory and with others falling by the wayside, he is now one of Ireland's best hopes for the Champion Hurdle. Starluck is an exciting sort that won at the equivalent meeting last year so has to be treated with plenty of respect. With Celestial Halo absent, Ruby Walsh switches to Pepe Simo. An easy winner at Haydock in novice company, this is an ambitious leap up in grade. Cape Tribulation probably needs further than this bare two miles. Straw Bear reverts to hurdling having not impressed over the larger obstacles. Binocular has not been without his detractors but he has a solid opportunity of reversing Fighting Fifth form with Go Native.
Binocular (FR) 4-5fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, every chance next, driven and one pace approaching last, no extra, 5th of 7, 7l behind Go Native (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Nov.
Cape Tribulation 16-1 (11-6) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 3rd, led 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, driven and headed before last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Zaynar (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) sft.
Go Native (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up, smooth headway to challenge 2 out, led before last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Newcastle 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Nov beating Sublimity (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
King's Revenge 20-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, soon ridden to challenge, kept on same pace approaching last, 4th of 9, 7l behind Tasheba (11-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) hvy.
Pepe Simo (IRE) 10-11fav (11-8) Held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, went 2nd approaching next, led last, stayed on well, driven out, won at Haydock 2m lst nov hdl (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov beating Any Given Day (11-6) by 5l, 6 ran.
Starluck (IRE) 5-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, raced wide approaching 4 out, headway from 3 out, led after last, soon ridden, stayed on and caught close home, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Mr Thriller (11-2) at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Straw Bear (USA) 20-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, tailed off approaching 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Zaynar (11-4) at Ascot 2m 3f hdl G2 (1) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
