raced wide, held up, raced keenly, jumped right, mistake 6th, progress soon after, beaten next, tailed off
held up in 3rd, progress before 6th, chased winner before next, driven along before 8th, no impression
held up, headway approaching 7th, disputed 2nd from next until 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
made all, clear 7th, not fluent 2 out, mistake last, unchallenged
chased winner until approaching 7th, weakened next
It was hard not to be impressed by Souffleur in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury and he's confidently expected to follow up, leaving Hills Of Aran and Nenuphar Collonges to battle it out for second. Peter Bowen's son of In The Wings has made rapid strides this season with the only defeat in his recent sequence coming when he was arguably given too much to do. He put the record straight with an authoritative display last time and can go in again. Hills Of Aran has been a credit to his connections but has shown his best form over further and could be tapped for toe at this trip. There are similar concerns with regard to Nenuphar Collonges who has run two blinding races over hurdles this season but is likely to have to settle for a place here. Carruthers has something to find on the book but he's made a pleasing start to his career and may be able to raise his game enough to run into the frame but he will do well to trouble the selection, Souffleur.
Hills Of Aran 10-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 2 out, ridden to chase leader approaching last, led flat, ran on, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs beating Hennessy (10-9) by 3l, 9 ran.
Nenuphar Collonges (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, led before last, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec beating Gone To Lunch (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Souffleur 7-1 (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Dec beating Elusive Dream (11-7) by 6l, 9 ran.
Carruthers 6-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 4th, ridden 2 out, headed soon after last, hampered under pressure close home, 2nd of 17, 3/4l behind Lodge Lane (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Just A Thought (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until 5th, soon behind, 8th of 18, well behind Khyber Kim (11-0) at Newbury 2m hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Rodrigo Gonzales (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, led after 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Greenbelt (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
