took keen hold, dropped out in last, headway from 3 out, driven after 2 out, pressing for 2nd from last, stayed on, closing on winner close home, just held
held up, mistake 8th, lost place approaching 3 out, well beaten when blundered 2 out
held up, closed 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, not fluent and beaten 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, led 3rd, headed 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakened from next
led, mistake 1st, headed 3rd, stayed prominent, ridden after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon edged right, 4th and beaten last, weakened flat
tracked leaders, closed 5th, led 7th, ridden after 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on, closing on winner close home, just held
held up in touch, effort and went 2nd after 3 out, led approaching last, jumped right at hurdle, driven flat, all out
You could put forward an argument that THE NEW ONE was the moral winner of the Champion Hurdle. He was beaten less than three lengths at the finish having lost more than double that in momentum when hampered by the fatal fall of Our Conor at halfway. Only beaten half-a-length as a novice in this last year, he'll be a short price to go one better today as he beat Rock On Ruby by 10 lengths at Kempton in October without coming off the bridle. The latter has been chasing, as has Grandouet, and both Ptit Zig and Grumeti were well behind the selection at Cheltenham. Diakali did beat Ptit Zig in a Grade 1 at Auteuil last year but, like Irish Saint, was beaten in handicap company on his latest start.
Diakali (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway 2 out, chased leaders when not much room before last, ridden and kept on flat, no impression, 4th of 28, 5l behind Lac Fontana (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Grandouet (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, outpaced 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace flat, never on terms, 6th of 9, 10l behind Western Warhorse (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Grumeti 66-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, pushed along briefly after 2nd, not fluent 4th, some headway and just about in touch when hit 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 30l behind Jezki (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Irish Saint (FR) 6-1fav (11-7) Held up in mid-division on outside, headway 3 out, chased leaders disputing 2nd approaching next, ridden and went 2nd approaching last, no impression on winner, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 20, 2l behind Splash of Ginge (10-3) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Ptit Zig (FR) 28-1 (11-10) Mid-division on outside, not fluent 1st, closed 3rd, lost place when mistake 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 9, 15l behind Jezki (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Rock On Ruby (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) In touch on outside, blundered and almost unseated rider 3rd, lost place 7th (water), struggling 9th, behind from next, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Western Warhorse (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs G1 (1) gs in Mar.
The New One (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Tracked leaders, badly hampered and dropped to 7th at the 3rd, closed before 3 out, outpaced next, 5th before last, ran on well flat, finished well to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Jezki (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
