held up in rear, blundered 4 out, soon pushed along and weakened
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden and took 4th before last, kept on same pace
tracked leaders in 3rd, reminder before 4 out, soon lost place, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before last
led, pressed 2 out, soon ridden and headed before last, no extra and lost 2nd place run-in
prominent in 5th, went 2nd after 4 out, ridden before last, soon weakened
towards rear, mid-division 4 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, in rear from 4th, headway after 2 out, went 2nd run-in, kept on and held by winner
mid-division, headway before 3 out to go 4th, weakened before 2 out
with leader, weakened after 4 out
tracked leaders, went 3rd after 4 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, kept on well
Flaxen Flare made mincemeat of the opposition in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham when fitted with a pair of blinkers. It's no surprise that the headgear is left on again here and Gordon Elliott's runner should confirm that running with Ruacana and Zamdy Man. The race was run in a much quicker time that the Triumph Hurdle in which ROLLING STAR finished sixth, a length behind fifth Vasco Du Ronceray. But not much went right for Nicky Henderson's charge that day and he is better judged on his defeat of Irish Saint at Cheltenham - he can get back to winning ways today. The latter went on to beat Vasco Du Ronceray and L'Unique in a Grade 1 at Kempton and should be thereabouts again but this is a big step up for Bob's World, Runswick Royal and the once-raced Hefner.
Bob's World 6-4fav (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, went 2nd soon after, led 2 out, kep ton well from last, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar beating Travis County (10-7) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Flaxen Flare (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway going well 5th, led after 2 out, ridden clear flat, ran on well, comfortably, won at Cheltenham 2m Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo) (1) gs in Mar beating Caid Du Berlais (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 24 ran.
Hefner (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway approaching 3 out, challenged last, driven flat, led towards finish, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Looking On (11-1) by nk, 15 ran.
Irish Saint (FR) 5-4fav (11-5) Raced wide, held up in touch, pushed along and outpaced in 5th before 2 out, stayed on to chase leader between last 2, challenged last, led narrowly final 150 yards, driven to assert final 50 yards, won at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) gd in Feb beating Vasco Du Ronceray (11-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Rolling Star (FR) 5-2fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced in 3rd after 2 out, ridden before last, no extra and lost place flat, 6th of 17, 23l behind Our Conor (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Ruacana 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, ridden after 3 out, hung left approaching last, no extra flat, 7th of 24, 19l behind Flaxen Flare (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo) (1) gs in Mar.
Runswick Royal (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, led before 2 out, clear before last, kept on well, won at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar beating Matthew Riley (11-1) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
Vasco Du Ronceray (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 2 out, ridden to chase leaders approaching last, kept on same pace, never on terms, 5th of 17, 22l behind Our Conor (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Zamdy Man 20-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden after 3 out, weakening when not fluent last, 12th of 24, 28l behind Flaxen Flare (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo) (1) gs in Mar.
L'unique (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Stumbled 1st, tracked leaders, led narrowly 3rd, pushed along and headed approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, rallied to 3rd flat, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Irish Saint (11-5) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) gd in Feb.
