always prominent, led 3 out, clear after next, ran on well
held up in rear, mistake 5th, soon beaten
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased winners next, never able to challenge
held up in touch, lost place 3 out
soon led, headed 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, every chance after 3 out, weakened after next
Katies Tuitor has the advantage of being fit from recent starts and Charlie Mann's gelding won well at Kempton last month so he has to be respected having been raised just 3lbs following that success but it is hard to get away from another Nicholls runner, CELESTIAL HALO, who gets the verdict ahead of Tasheba. Nicky Henderson's gelding ran creditably on the flat on his most recent start when a fair fourth behind stable companion Caracciola in the Queen Alexandra but he is now 5lbs higher than when last seen over timber when a close third behind Sangfroid at Sandown in April and may just be a shade high in the weights. David Pipe's Mamlook is another with decent flat form having run a decent second behind Darley Sun in the Cesarewitch last month and that run should have put him spot on for this. Don McCain's Whiteoak has been well held in his last two starts and of more interest may be Andrew Turnell's Blue Bajan, who comes here fit and in good heart from the flat. He like Whiteoak has plenty to find with Celestial Halo on running in the Champion Hurdle though and the five-year-old is taken to make a winning reappearance now that Paul Nicholls is beginning to hit some form.
Celestial Halo (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 11th of 15, 41l behind Solwhit (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl G1 (1) gs in Apr.
Blue Bajan (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up on outside, ridden and headway 3 out, stayed on under pressure from last, nearest finish, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Noble Alan (10-5) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Gr2 (1) gd in Apr.
Whiteoak (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway after 8th, chasing leaders 3 out, soon hung left, weakened approaching last, 6th of 15, 18l behind Solwhit (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl G1 (1) gs in Apr.
Katies Tuitor 9-1 (11-8) Close up, chased leader 3 out, mistake and led 2 out, soon joined, driven last, stayed on, won at Kempton 2m hdl (2) gf in Oct beating Red Moloney (11-5) by 2l, 6 ran.
Tasheba 7-2fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, led soon after last, no extra when headed towards finish, 3rd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Sangfroid (10-3) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Marodima (FR) 40-1 (11-6) Led, headed after 2nd, weakened 4 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Valain (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Aug, 17 ran.
Mamlook (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Held up, headway from 4 out, kept on from 2 out, 4th of 21, 17l behind Time For Rupert (10-10) at Aintree 3m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
