prominent to 5th, ridden next and soon weakened
in touch, hit 3rd, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, effort 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, kept on again under pressure flat
held up in rear, good headway approaching 2 out, led last, ridden clear flat
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
pressed leader, every chance 2 out, weakened last
held up in mid-division, headway on outside approaching 2 out, chased leaders last, edged left and kept on under pressure flat
raced keenly, led, headed soon after 2 out when mistake, weakened before last
chased leaders, hit 6th, not much room 2 out and soon weakened
held up in rear, headway until mid-division from 4th, ridden, no response and soon beaten after 3 out
prominent, hit 4th and next, soon ridden and weakened before 3 out
pulled hard, in touch to 3rd, soon well behind
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, never going pace to reach leaders
held up in rear, hit 6th, good headway approaching 2 out, no extra before last
in touch to 3rd, soon struggling
always towards rear
chased leader, ridden to lead soon after 2 out, headed last, not pace of winner flat, kept on well to hold 2nd
My Way De Solzen can land the spoils at the expense of Justified, Marcel and Publican, with Wild Passion also worth noting in the first race of the Festival. What a fantastic curtain-raiser to this year's Festival, and as usual, with so many top novices in the field, one cannot be 100 per cent confident of latching on to the winner. However, hopes are high that My Way De Solzen can give Alan King the perfect start by gaining his fourth and biggest success since coming over from France. There should be plenty of pace on here and so jockey Robert Thornton will hopefully not have to make as much use of his mount early on as he did when making all in Listed company at Exeter last time. That was the race in which the selection turned the tables on his earlier Tolworth Hurdle conqueror Marcel, who struggled to get to him. That defeat saw Martin Pipe's charge deposed as ante-post favourite for this event, and although he has racked up an amazing nine wins since being bought at Goffs France Sales last July, he may well have done enough for the time being, and will have to be spot on if he is to emulate the stable's other past winners, Sondrio and Hors La Loi III. Justified absolutely bolted up under Mick Fitzgerald at Punchestown at the end of January and was immediately slashed in price for today's race. Connections were considering the Sun Alliance Hurdle but appear to have made the right decision to utilize his speed as he bids to make it five in a row for Ireland, following on from Sausalito Bay, Like-A-Butterfly, Back In Front and Brave Inca. Fellow Irish raider Publican impressed greatly when beating a big field at Naas and is sure to have his supporters as well, along with Dermot Weld's Akshar, and Wild passion who beat Justified at Navan in November. He has since been beaten by Marcel though and does not appeal as much as some of his fellow countrymen. Cherub was also beaten by Marcel on his last start, but the stable was just about to be shut down at the time, and he has claims on his Punchestown victory last April. We return to My Way De Solzen to fend off the Irish and keep the first prize of the week at home.
Akhtari (IRE) 6-1 Made all, strongly pressed and almost joined from early straight, kept on well under pressure, won at Punchestown 2m mdn hdl sft in Feb beating Tycoon Hall by 3 1/2l, 22 ran.
Akshar (IRE) 5-1 Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, no impression from next, weakened from last, 4th of 8, 28l behind Justified at Punchestown 2m nov hdl Grd 2 hvy in Jan.
Aleron (IRE) 9-2jt-fav Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened from last, 5th of 13, 7l behind Far Pavilions at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gf in Feb.
Arcalis 11-8fav Held up, mistake 3rd, headway next, pushed along and not fluent 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, held on for 3rd, 3rd of 11, 18l behind Clear Thinking at Newbury 2m nov hdl (C) gs in Feb.
Cherub (GER) 2-1 Raced wide, jumped left 1st, headway to chase winner 3 out, mistake 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Marcel at Windsor 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Dec.
Chilling Place (IRE) 16-1 Led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, stumbled and not recover, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Marcel at Sandown 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Jan.
Dusky Warbler 15-8fav Tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, led before last, idled run-in, ridden out, won at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Feb beating Jair Ohmsford by 10l, 7 ran.
Justified (IRE) 9-4fav Close up in 2nd, led travelling well approaching 2 out, soon drew clear, stayed on strongly from last, impressive, won at Punchestown 2m nov hdl Grd 2 hvy in Jan beating Blazing Liss by 14l, 8 ran.
Madiba 14-1 Disputed lead, narrow lead and mistake 2 out, headed between last 2, weakened before last, 5th of 8, 24l behind Jacks Craic at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Jan.
Manorson (IRE) 4-6fav Always going well, tracked leaders, led 6th, not fluent 3 out, clear next, hit last, easily, won at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gd in Feb beating Space Star by 13l, 14 ran.
Marcel (FR) 1-2fav Held up, headway and jumped right 3 out, mistake 2 out, eased when beaten flat, 3rd of 6, 38l behind My Way de Solzen at Exeter 2m 1f lst nov hdl (A) gs in Feb.
My Way de Solzen (FR) 3-1 Led, quickened approaching 3 out, ridden after 3 out, clear 2 out, easily, won at Exeter 2m 1f lst nov hdl (A) gs in Feb beating Give Me Love by 27l, 6 ran.
Only Vintage (USA) 4-5fav In touch, led 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Hereford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Jan beating Smart Mover by 8l, 9 ran.
Perfect Storm 11-8fav Chased leaders, stumbled 3rd, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, rallied under pressure flat, no extra close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Noble Request at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gd in Feb.
Prins Willem (IRE) 11-4 Held up, headway 3rd, chased winner from next, ridden approaching 2 out, not fluent last, kept on flat, gaining near finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Clear Thinking at Newbury 2m nov hdl (C) gs in Feb.
Publican (IRE) 1-2fav Mid-division, 7th 3 out, 5th next, smooth headway to lead before last, quickened clear run-in, easily, won at Naas 2m mdn hdl sft in Feb beating Lepidus by 7l, 23 ran.
Shuhood (USA) 5-1 In touch, pushed and outpaced after 3 out, stayed on before last, kept on same pace flat, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Ladalko at Sandown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Dec.
Stan (NZ) 7-2 Held up, headway to lead 3 out, ridden and headed next, one pace, 2nd of 9, 17l behind Debbie at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Jan.
Villon (IRE) 9-4 Held up, gradual headway from 6th to lead approaching 2 out, soon ridden and kept on well, eased close home, won at Ayr 2m 4f nh nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec beating Bewleys Berry by 5l, 14 ran.
Wild Passion (GER) 5-2fav Mid-division, ridden and mistake 3 out, switched left and headway approaching 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 9, 6l behind Marcel at Sandown 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Jan.
Dalriath 25-1 Led, soon clear, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, beaten when brought down 2 out in race won by Motive at Catterick 2m nov hdl (E) gd, 13 ran.
