towards rear when slipped up flat after 3rd
held up in mid-division, always going well, smooth headway 5th, challenged on bit 2 out, soon led, clear before last, very easily
in touch, ridden and lost place after 3rd, stayed on again approaching 2 out
behind, hard ridden, no headway 2 out
raced keenly in touch, weakened after 2 out
held up and behind, headway 3 out, hard-ridden, mistake 2 out, weakened quickly
behind, headway approaching 2 out, mistake last, stayed on flat
chased clear leader, every chance when mistake 3 out, kept on same pace from next
mid-division, headway to chase leaders from 5th, hit 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, stayed on approaching 2 out, no extra flat
in touch, ridden 5th, weakened 2 out
mid-division, weakened 5th
in touch, driven after 3 out, kept on same pace
led, soon clear, ridden 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon headed, weakened quickly
held up in rear, slightly hampered after 3rd, no danger after
The Irish always do well in what is traditionally the opening event at the Festival, and the last decade was no exception, as they sent out five of the 10 winners in that period. However, it is not normally the one that goes off favourite that prompts a rush to the Guinness tents, with Like-A-Butterfly being the first market leader to oblige in over 10 years. You should then bear that in mind if deciding to steam into this year¿S hotpot, Back In Front. Eddie O¿Grady¿s charge would appear to have all the credentials to land the spoils, having finished third behind Pizarro and Rhinestone Cowboy in the Champion Bumper 12 months ago, and successful in both subsequent starts since chasing home Hardy Eustace on his seasonal reappearance. However, his first victory over timber came at Limerick which does not provide a true test of stamina, and he did not have much to spare over Arch Stanton at Leopardstown on his final prep outing. Those facts surely make his odds too small, and a better value proposition is fellow Irish raider Kicking King. Tom Taaffe¿s five-year-old has only been beaten once this term, and that was by the high-class mare Solerina in a Grade 3 event over two and a half miles at Navan in December. Twice successful at Punchestown since, including in Grade 2 company last time, Kicking King jumps well for a novice, and will be suited by a strongly run race over two miles, according to his trainer, who also believes he will relish the better ground at Cheltenham. Of the home contingent, Thisthatandtother makes most appeal. Seen as a future Arkle candidate by Paul Nicholls, he is no slouch over hurdles either, judged on his defeat of Puntal at Wincanton. Although firmly put in his place by Rhinestone Cowboy the time before at the West-Country track, that wasn¿t exactly a disgrace, and he should play a prominent role. Strictly on last season¿s Champion Bumper form though, Thisthatandtother has it to do with Back In Front, who as we said earlier, faces a stiff challenge himself from Kicking King who we see as the one to beat.
