held up behind, ridden and no impression approaching 3 out, 6th and no chance when hit 2 out, pulled up before last
prominent, ridden 2 out, hard driven and one pace run-in
in touch, ridden 4th, hard driven approaching 3 out, weakened and hit next
took keen hold, soon tracking leader, led approaching 3 out, clear from next, eased final 100 yards, easily
held up in touch, steady headway under pressure approaching 2 out, driven and one pace approaching last
led and soon clear, hit 3rd and 4th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened rapidly
always behind, tailed off from 5th
behind, ridden 4th, tailed off from next
prominent, outpaced and lost place approaching 3 out, headway under pressure approaching last, one pace flat
in touch until lost place 5th, soon tailed off
pulled hard early, not jumped well in rear, tailed off from 4th
This is a decent juvenile novices' hurdle, even by Cheltenham standards, with plenty of decent four-year-olds on show. The Nicky Henderson-trained Just Murphy put earlier disappointments behind him when winning well in the mud at Kempton last month, however, the faster conditions here may not be to his advantage. A similar comment applies to the French-bred Santenay, from the Paul Nicholls stable. Live The Dream faired better in the Martell Mersey Novices' Hurdle than she had done in the Triumph Hurdle previously and could be worth a second look but Diamond Joshua, who finished third in the Championship race here last month, looks the one they all have to beat. If over his exertions in a traditionally hard race, John Berry's son of Mujadil looks good for more Cheltenham prize-money.
