tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, led going well 2 out, soon strongly pressed, headed flat, held final 100 yards
mistake 1st, fell next
chased leader until hit 6th, 3rd, driven after 3 out, challenged and upsides 2 out, led narrowly flat, driven to a 3rd gamely final 100 yards
in touch, ridden after 7th, weakened soon after 3 out, tailed off
in touch, dropped to rear 5th, tailed off 3 out
in touch, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, stayed on to press for 3rd near finish, no chance with front pair
held up in rear until fell 6th
led and soon clear, reduced lead and ridden after 7th, headed 2 out, soon outpaced by front pair, kept on well to hold 3rd
A cracking renewal with plenty of Champion Hurdle prospects involved including Afsoun, Hardy Eustace and Detroit City. It will be interesting to see the betting market but we will give Detroit City the tentative vote here as last year he was heading into Cheltenham favourite for the Champion Hurdles only to flop badly. Since then he has had numerous operations to resolve any problems that he might have had and the whisper is that he is back to his very best. If that is true then he can prove difficult to beat. Afsoun was third in last years Champion Hurdle behind Sublimity and was not discreditted at Aintree thereafter. Again he is a top class performer on his day and has to be on the short list. As does Hardy Eustace who has race fitness on his side but at the age of ten it remains to be seen if he still retains the same level of ability he once had to land himself in the Cheltenham Festival winners enclosure. So for the winner we return to Detroit City.
Afsoun (FR) 13-2 (11-7) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, kept on from next, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Al Eile (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Detroit City (USA) 7-4fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden and outpaced 7th, never dangerous, 10th of 11, well behind Al Eile (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Hardy Eustace (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Led, ridden and headed after 4 out, 3rd next, kept on same pace under pressure, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Silent Oscar (11-12) at Punchestown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Kings Quay 4-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching last, switched left flat, soon led, eased close home, just held on, won at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gd beating Chivalry (11-8) by a hd, 10 ran.
Overstrand (IRE) (10-8) Last and struggling to go pace, tailed off from 6 out, refused 2 out behind Zaiyad (10-8) at Auteuil 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) , 9 ran.
Wichita Lineman (IRE) 4-6fav (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 6th, led 3 out, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Chief Dan George (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Cloone River (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division until clipped heels and slipped up 3 out in race won by Kanad (9-7) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl (2) gf, 16 ran.
Lough Derg (FR) 17-2 (11-0) Chased leading pair, led approaching 9th, not fluent 10th, headed, jumped right 2 out, soon no chance with front pair, 3rd of 6, 18l behind Black Jack Ketchum (11-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f hdl Grd 2 (1) gf.
