held up, closed after 3 out, switched right after 2 out, ridden last, no extra flat
prominent, not fluent 7th or 3 out, ridden 2 out, led before last, soon headed, led again 120 yards out, driven out
held up in 4th, not fluent 5th, closed from 3 out, led last, headed 120 yards out, soon 3rd and held, one pace
prominent, hit 2nd, not much room 4th, not fluent 5th, led 4 out, edged left after 2 out, headed before last, weakened flat
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, headway on outside 2 out, driven flat, went 2nd final 100 yards, edged left and stayed on
not fluent, led until 4 out, weakened from next, tailed off
Navajo Pass and Dinons look to be facing a stiff task at the weights in this but none of the remaining quartet can be ruled out. Summerville Boy goes well fresh and won the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham at the start of the year before finishing fifth in the Stayers’ Hurdle in March. Call Me Lord also won a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last season and took his chance in the Champion Hurdle later, though was let down by his jumping. Thomas Darby didn’t take to fences last term but won a Grade 3 handicap back over hurdles at Ascot and then ran third in the National Spirit at Fontwell but the weights appear to favour CH’TIBELLO (NAP). The latter was beaten a length-and-a-half by Call Me Lord in the International Hurdle last September but is now 10lb better off. He was well ahead of Summerville Boy in the Aintree Hurdle last year and recent wind surgery may help extend his time near the top of the tree.
Call Me Lord (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Held up on inside, not fluent 4th, pushed along and well beaten after 3 out, 13th of 17, 30l behind Epatante (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Summerville Boy (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd when hit 2 out, every chance home bend, unable to quicken before last, no impression but kept on flat, 5th of 15, 6 1/4l behind Lisnagar Oscar (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Thomas Darby (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) Bit keen, tracked leader, led 3rd, hit 5th, hit 2 out and headed, chased leader, ridden and every chance early run-in, weakened in 3rd final 110 yards, 3rd of 5, 4l behind William Henry (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) sft in Feb.
Navajo Pass 50-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on inside, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, rallied into 4th after last, kept on, not reach leaders, 4th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Burning Victory (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Mar.
Ch'tibello (FR) 3-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd approaching and hit 2 out, ridden and switched left between last 2, stayed on run-in but not quite enough pace to challenge, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Song For Someone (11-2) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Feb.
Dinons (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Led and disputed on outer, slight mistake 5 out, 2nd 4 out, ridden next, no extra in 3rd before 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 19 1/2l behind Go Another One (11-7) at Down Royal 3m Yielding - Soft in Aug.
