took keen hold, held up in 4th, outpaced when hit 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led to before 5th, tracked leader, close up 3 out, challenged next, led again briefly when mistake and headed last, ridden flat, stayed on well to regain narrow lead towards finish
held up towards rear in touch, 6th when blundered 4 out, soon outpaced, well beaten when ridden after next
held up in rear, pushed along 4 out, ridden after next, stayed on into modest 4th after last, no chance with leaders
tracked leader, led before 5th, headed briefly before last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, headed towards finish
tracked leading pair, mistake 2nd, effort and every chance 3 out, one pace next, ridden and no impression in clear 3rd between last 2
held up towards rear in touch, outpaced 3 out, no chance with leaders, lost modest 4th after last
After easily landing a Grade 2 at Kempton, Beltor went to Chetenham for the Triumph Hurdle but was well beaten though he was reportedly struck into. He finished a long way behind runner-up Top Notch that day and the latter reappeared at Haydock last week when just failing to deal with Irving, who won this last year. Top Notch looks to have just the more scope of the latter pair and can gain revenge on Paul Nicholls' charge. Identity Thief is progressing fast if his victory over the useful Whiteout in a Grade 2 at Down Royal can be believed but Purple Bay, who chased home Faugheen at a respectable distance in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, ran so poorly on his reappearance at Aintree three weeks ago that he's best watched at present. Intense Tango landed a Grade 2 mares' hurdle at Doncaster in January but hasn't quite managed to replicate that form subsequently so the vote goes to WICKLOW BRAVE (NAP). He's had to live in the shadow of his brilliant stable companions over the past two seasons but the Ebor Handicap runner-up looks to be improving over timber and it's difficult to see any of this opposition finishing a very close third behind Nichols Canyon and Faugheen as he did in the Morgiana Hurdle a fortnight ago.
Beltor 7-1fav (11-0) Behind, outpaced 2 out, stayed on under pressure into mid-division before last, never able to reach leaders, 6th of 16, 21 1/4l behind Peace And Co (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Mar.
Identity Thief (IRE) 15-8fav (11-2) Made all, ridden clear from 2 out, slight mistake at last, stayed on well, won at Down Royal 2m (1) Yielding in Oct beating Whiteout (10-8) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Irving 10-11fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, chased leader before last, ridden to lead run-in, driven out, held on towards finish, won at Haydock 2m (2) sft in Nov beating Top Notch (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Purple Bay (IRE) 6-5fav (11-2) Held up, went 3rd before 6th, shaken up before 2 out, soon beaten, hung left and weakened before mistake last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 5, 30 1/2l behind Bobs Worth (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f (2) sft in Nov.
Top Notch (FR) 7-4fav (11-3) Tracked leader, led from 2nd, mistake 2 out, ridden and headed run-in, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Irving (11-3) at Haydock 2m (2) sft in Nov.
Wicklow Brave 8-1 (11-10) Raced 3rd, slight mistake 3 out, closer in 3rd 2 out, driven and no impression leader before last, ran on without threatening run-in, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Nichols Canyon (11-10) at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Intense Tango 5-1 (11-6) In touch in mid-division, closed before 3 out, shaken up after 2 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Blue Buttons (10-12) at Wetherby 2m lst (1) sft in Oct.
