not fluent, held up, bumped slightly 1st, mistake 3rd, headway 5th, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd before 3 out, led going well approaching 2 out, driven and stayed on well flat
chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on flat, held by winner
chased clear leader, closed 4th, led 6th, headed before 2 out, 3rd and no extra last
led, soon clear, mistake 3rd, reduced lead 4th, headed 6th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up approaching next
in rear, several slow jumps, mistake 4th, not fluent next, soon behind
L'aigle Royal has not been at his best since finishing fifth in the Triumph Hurdle trial at Cheltenham in November. He's not easily dismissed in this but GREAT TRY is less exposed and ran well on his hurdling bow at Newbury last time. Paul Nicholls' charge can land this with normal improvement and is also preferred to recent Fakenham maiden hurdle winner Twentytwo's Taken. Bringithomeminty didn't get very far before falling on his hurdling bow while Belize, Whitsundays and Hedley Lamarr lack experience.
Bringithomeminty 12-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, fell 4th, in a race won by Jollyallan (11-8) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (2) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Great Try (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Took keen hold early, tracked leading pair, travelling well 3 out, went 2nd last, every chance run-in until no extra in 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Clean Sheet (11-0) at Newbury 2m hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Hedley Lamarr (IRE) Gold Well gelding out of Donna's Tarquin.
L'aigle Royal (GER) 4-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, driven and one pace after 3 out, ridden after next, rallied approaching last, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no impression with winner, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Definitly Red (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Whitsundays (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Took keen hold, chased winner until over 3f out, hung left under pressure and weakened over 2f out, 6th of 8, 43l behind The Boss's Dream (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Nov.
Belize 12-1 (10-7) Held up, went 3rd 6f out, ridden 3f out, weakened from over 1f out, 3rd of 5, 15l behind Hollies Pearl (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Jan.
Twentytwo's Taken (IRE) 8-11fav (11-4) Raced freely in rear, headway halfway, soon chasing leaders, led approaching last, stayed on strongly (1 hurdle ommited), won at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Midnight Jazz (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
