held up in last pair, steady headway 7th, 3rd 3 out, challenging when not much room switched left and carried left 2 out, led approaching the last, joined run-in, headed towards finish
raced wide, held up in last pair, headway into 4th place 5th, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and weakening when unsighted and blundered 2 out
raced keenly, made most until mistake and headed 2 out, weakened between last two
chased leader until after 2nd, chased leaders, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, tracked leader after 2nd, led briefly approaching 6th, went left and hit next, led and went left 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, rallied to lead again towards finish
hit 1st, held up in 4th place, dropped to last 5th, rallied chasing leaders approaching 2 out, every chance last, stayed on same pace run-in
MESSIRE DES OBEAUX has come on in leaps and bounds this season and was a smooth winner of the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December. Cheltenham-bound, Alan King’s novice should have the class to give weight to some up-and-coming rivals including Bags Groove, not hard pressed to get off the mark at Taunton after a couple of near-misses, and Keeper Hill. The latter has won his last two with something to spare while Tommy Rapper was only beaten a length by a subsequent Grade Two winner at Warwick in December. Benatar easily landed the odds at Fontwell last month but, like Finula, will need a lot more to figure in this.
Messire Des Obeaux (FR) 10-3 (11-7) Took keen hold, tracked clear leading pair, closed steadily 4 out, 2nd approaching 2 out, led between last two, hit last, ridden and stayed on strongly to go clear run-in, won at Newbury 2m 5f (1) gs in Dec beating Baltazar D'allier (11-7) by 2l, 8 ran.
Bags Groove (IRE) 1-3fav (11-6) Mid-division, headway tracking leaders 7th, 2nd after 2 out, led travelling well last, came readily clear run-in, won at Taunton 2m 3f (4) gd in Jan beating Captain Buck's (11-6) by 4 1/2l, 14 ran.
Benatar (IRE) 4-6fav (11-6) Raced wide, pulled hard, held up, awkward 7th, smooth headway tracking leaders approaching 3 out, 2nd before 2 out, challenged and hit 2 out, led before the last, came readily clear run-in, won at Fontwell 2m 3f mdn (5) sft in Jan beating Groundunderrepair (11-6) by 10l, 8 ran.
Finula (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, 2nd before 2 out, led approaching last, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) gs in Nov beating Calva D'honore (11-8) by 1l, 13 ran.
Keeper Hill (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Always prominent, challenged 3 out, led before next, clear approaching last, comfortably, won at Hereford 2m 4f (4) sft in Jan beating Skipthecuddles (10-12) by 5l, 13 ran.
Tommy Rapper (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, on outside, headway 4 out, went 2nd after next, challenged 2 out, edged right flat, held towards finish, stayed on, 2nd of 18, 3/4l behind Willoughby Court (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Dec.
