held up, steady headway from before 4 out, tracked leader approaching 2 out, led soon after last, shaken up to draw clear closing stages
not jumped well, tracked leader, mistake 4 out, hard ridden when mistake 2 out, soon beaten
led, well clear 2nd, headed after 6th, stayed chasing leader until approaching 2 out, beaten when mistake 2 out
pulled hard, held up, led after 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed soon after last, edged right and one-paced flat, no chance with winner
held up in rear, headway and in touch when bad mistake and fell 3 out
Baracouda (FR) Impressive in Long Walk Hurdle and Bonusprint Distance Championship Hurdle (at Sandown's Finale meeting) last term; worthy favourite for Stayers' Hurdle and should win here if fit enough.
Montalcino (IRE) Very easy winner of Aintree's Martell Mersey Novices' Hurdle under testing conditions last term; that race may have taken a lot out of him as he was very much below par over two miles at Sandown subsequently. Return to further here should suit but may prefer softer ground.
Kates Charm (IRE) Useful hurdler/chaser on her day but faces a stiff task in this company.
Hors La Loi III (FR) Seemed to lose his way last term (pulled up three times from four starts); step up in trip could rejuvenate Champion Hurdle runner-up.
Rodock (FR) Progressed from handicap company last term; held by Baracouda on running at Sandown and shouldn't reverse form.
