towards rear, headway when ridden appraoching 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, headway 4th, ridden 5th, hanging left but staying on, not reached leaders
in touch until weakened 4th
in touch, ridden 4 out, short of room after 3 out, no further impression
tracked leader, ridden and weakened 3 out
in touch until ridden and weakened 5th
in touch, ridden and weakened after 4 out
led, ridden 4 out, headed when weakening approaching last
blundered and unseated rider 1st
in touch, ridden and weakening when mistake 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden 4 out, never on terms when mistake last
held up in rear, headway after 4th, challenged 2 out, ridden and led flat, forged clear close home
towards rear, hampered on bend after 1st, not recover
rear, mistake 2nd, ridden and stayed on from 3 out
held up, hampered 1st, stayed on towards finish
mid-division, steady headway approaching 4 out, ridden after 2 out, led last, headed flat, no extra
held up in mid-division, ridden approaching 5th, stayed on but not troubled leaders
towards rear, brief effort 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
prominent, weakened quickly 4th
in touch until weakened 4 out
in touch, ridden soon after halfway, weakened 3 out
It's a 27-runner handicap, extremely valuable and competitive but Nicky Henderson can land the race again - for the fourth time in the last six runnings - with Non So. He is improving, won a valuable handicap at Kempton in really good style last time and gets in the race with 10 stone. Copeland won this race from a 15lb-lower mark last year but, still a Champion Hurdle entry, can run well. Polar Red, impressive winner at Cheltenham last year (in first-time visor, rated 114, now 148 - less rider's 7lb claim) and then scraped home in the Imperial Cup off a mark of 136. Disappointing since, he's the type to run well if on top of his game but many will argue that the handicapper has him in his grip. Martin Pipe is responsible for the last two-named as well as Puntal, Mr Cool and Bernardon (visored for the first time today). Puntal also holds the Champion entry but has been slightly disappointing so far. That said, a mark of 138 could in time seem reasonable and it would be no surprise to see him go well. Whichever of Martin Pipe's that Tony McCoy chooses will be interesting. Mr Cool has been running well this year but will probably set the race up for something behind him. He still has something to find with Spirit Leader and Chauvinist on this season's form. In Contrast does not look too badly handicapped on the best of his form. He was an excellent novice - he won at Aintree and was placed at Cheltenham - and, if fully back in the groove looks set to run a good race. Scolardy has not run since winning the Triumph Hurdle last March (form hasn't worked out that well) with Quazar back in ninth. The latter seemed to enjoy being stepped up in trip last time and might lack the toe to be competitive here (he was well behind Spirit Leader over this trip at Sandown in December although he is now 6lbs better off). Chauvinist, who is not the Henderson stable's first choice but does hold Cheltenham entries whereas Non So does not, is a course and distance winner, and had Tikram, Benbyas, Monkerhostin, Mr Cool and Bernardon behind him at Ascot although the going will be livelier today. Also, the well-regarded Holy Orders was ninth that day. On his day, he's capable of running well but that is the chance you take. Gralmano is on a three-timer, but those previous wins came in chases and, on balance, his hurdling form falls short. October Mist has been keeping good company this year but is still one-pound higher than for the best of his hurdling wins (has won over fences too). Giocomo is opposable from a 9lb-higher mark than for his Chepstow win. Davoski has been chasing and is at the top end of what he's achieved over hurdles. Calladine has been running in chases and over much-longer trips recently and is hard to build a strong case for. Regal Exit is Henderson's third runner, and he has been running in novice chases this season Regal Exit is Henderson's other runner, but he has been novice chasing this season. He is a course and distance winner, though, and finished second in the Triumph in 2000 but his preparation fro this is not a usual one. The 2000 Champion Bumper winner Joe Cullen has had his problems and, racing from 7lbs out of the handicap proper, does not have an obvious chance. Haditovski, Majlis, Moving On Up, Atlantic Rhapsody, Tikram and Warjan are also out of the weights. However, the last-named - from a canny stable - could run well at the bottom of the handicap, a breathing operation likely to bring about further improvement this year. It is interesting to see Ted Walsh send over the lightly-raced Atlantic Rhapsody for the race but, again, it is hard to build a confident case about him. Overall, then, it is hard to escape the attention of Non So. Champion Hurdle entry Puntal and top-class novice hurdler from last year, In Contrast, come into the reckoning. As an outsider, Warjan could run well, but Non So gets a strong vote.
