led and set good pace, mistake 3rd, ridden from 3 out, driven and headed between last 2, no impression and lost 2nd run-in
tracked leader, travelling well when hit 2 out, weakened last
held up, headway and hit 5th, ridden and struggling next, well behind when fell last
led chasing group but off the pace, closed from 5th, driven and stayed on approaching last, went 2nd run-in, no chance with winner
held up, not fluent 4th, slowed from 5th, mistake and weakened 2 out
settled 3rd, challenged 2 out, led between last 2, clear last, stayed on well
always behind, mistake 5th, ridden after 3 out and soon struggling
Buena Vista has done little wrong since being switched to hurdles, having shown decent form in bumpers, and is taken to defy his penalties at the main expense of Noland and De Soto. The last mentioned found just Missed That too good in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper when last seen and could be a decent recruit to the novice hurdling ranks but lack of a previous run this term and experience over hurdles has to be of concern so he is probably best watched at present. Good Citizen represents a stable in top form at the moment but he needs to improve on all known evidence along with Wincanton second Foxtrot Yankee. Nicky Henderson has his string in good order so Krismas Cracker has to be respected but showed little on his bumper debut and is not one that can be backed with any confidence. More solid claims are held by the Paul Nicholls-trained Noland, who is entitled to improve on his reappearance third at Wincanton but Buena Vista sets the standard and is the one to beat judged by his latest second to Boychuk over course and distance.
Buena Vista (IRE) 9-4fav (11-7) Led and set strong pace, driven between last 2, no extra, headed final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Boychuk (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Nov.
De Soto 20-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden over 2f out, chased winner well inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 24, nk behind Missed That (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m nhf Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Foxtrot Yankee (IRE) 200-1 (10-9) Not jump well, mid-division, hit 2nd, blundered 4th and 5th, headway after 3 out, every chance when hit 2 out, no extra, 2nd of 14, 11l behind Barton Park (11-0) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Nov.
Good Citizen (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden behind leaders approaching 3 out, kept on from 2 out, 3rd of 17, 2l behind Sea The Light (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (D) gs in Nov.
Krismas Cracker 7-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 15th of 21, 28l behind Hi Humpfree (11-1) at Newbury 2m nhf (H) gd in Apr.
Noland Evensfav (10-12) Held up last and jumped left throughout, ridden and headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, jumped left last, ran on flat, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Russian Around (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Lago d'Oro 12-1 (11-0) In touch, mistake 2nd, outpaced after 4 out, kept on to take moderate 3rd flat, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Miss Shakira (10-9) at Leicester 2m mrs nov chs (E) gf in Nov.
