behind, driven along after 6th, detached after 4 out, kept on from last, never dangerous
chased leader, led 8th, hit 9th, headed after 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
always prominent, mistake 4 out, led approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace but no impression on winner after last
mid-division, hit 4th and reminder, headway approaching next, not fluent 7th, mistake 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 3rd, ridden and lost place after 4 out, stayed on one pace from 2 out, no impression
chased leaders, challenged 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, ran on well flat
in touch, pushed along and lost place after 7th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
settled in mid-division, ridden and behind from 9th
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden and went left 2 out, 3rd and no chance with front 2 when bad mistake last, heavily eased
took keen hold in rear, not fluent 8th, headway on inside approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up, reminder after 2nd, not fluent 5th, headway on outside 9th, every chance 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened approaching last
led, headed and reminder 8th, regained lead after 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out
The Aintree opener can got to My Way de Solzen, with his main dangers given as Mighty Man and Fire Dragon. The Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner My Way de Solzen is clearly the one to beat based on that excellent win. Mighty Man, who was beaten just over four lengths into third at Cheltenham, rates a danger, and we would not rule out a good run from the World Hurdle 13th, No Refuge, if he can get back to last year's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle winning form, or indeed his Ascot Hurdle win of November. The World Hurdle fourth, Fire Dragon, has also to be respected, but the Cheltenham ninth, Westender, will need to be on one of his very much better days to get involved. Of the others, we will give a mention to Classified on his first run for three years, his last outing having been a fourth in the 2003 Stayers' Hurdle, and Fundamentalist, because the 2004 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle winner now reverts to hurdling after some chasing blips. Overall, though, My Way de Solzen is the one to beat.
Carlys Quest 16-1 (11-8) Mid-division, driven and lost place 6th, soon well behind, stayed on from last, never a danger, 15th of 24, 24l behind Kadoun (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Fire Dragon (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, no extra approaching last, 4th of 20, 7l behind My Way de Solzen (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
My Way de Solzen (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, led going well after 2 out, driven and edged right flat, held on gamely under pressure close home, won at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar beating Golden Cross (11-10) by a hd, 20 ran.
No Refuge (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Always behind, 13th of 20, 39l behind My Way de Solzen (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, headway on inside approaching 2 out, ran on flat, 3rd of 30, 5l behind Sky's The Limit (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Mighty Man (FR) 4-1fav (11-10) In touch, outpaced and lost place 3 out, headway approaching last, kept on flat, 3rd of 20, 4l behind My Way de Solzen (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Westender (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Behind, hampered 5th, pushed along next, never in contention, 11th of 20, 30l behind My Way de Solzen (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Big Moment 5-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, blundered 6th, not fluent next, pushed along when fell at the 8th in race won by Napolitain (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb, 5 ran.
Classified (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Raced 5th, headway to go 3rd approaching 3 out, soon driven and beaten before 2 out, 4th of 11, 19l behind Baracouda (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar '03.
Fundamentalist (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) In touch, ridden after 8th, weakened 3 out, behind when fell 2 out in race won by Newmill (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Redemption 16-1 (11-0) Held up, mistakes 3rd and 6th, headway approaching 11th, weakening when mistake 4 out, 17th of 24, well behind Non So (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Starzaan (IRE) 100-1 (11-10) In touch, ridden 3 out, no impression when blundered next, 7th of 20, 18l behind My Way de Solzen (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
