held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, disputed lead last, led flat, all out finish
close up, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace
in touch, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened and well behind
held up rear, weakening when stumbled 2 out, never dangerous, tailed off
in rear, lost touch after 4th, soon beaten and pulled up before last
led until headed 3 out, kept on well, rallied after last, just held close home
in touch, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
in rear, headway after 4th, kept on under pressure, not trouble leaders
held up behind, some headway after 4th, soon one pace, no impression on leaders
pulled hard early, in touch, weakened after 4th, soon behind and pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, led 3 out, joined last, no extra flat, lost 2nd flat
held up in touch, weakened 4 out, soon well behind
Albuhera lost no caste in defeat in a better race than this at Cheltenham last time and is fancied to regain the winning thread here with the main dangers likely to come from hurdling newcomers Adiemus and Distant Prospect. The selection lost his way a little on the flat with Mark Johnston but has been revitalised over hurdles of late with wins at Exeter, Chepstow and Cheltenham prior to a disappointing effort when only sixth in an admittedly competitive handicap at Ascot. However, the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding only went down by a short head to Champion Hurdle fourth at Cheltenham last time and, with the third Contraband having given the form a big boost earlier this week, he looks the one to be on. Other hurdling winners Mumbling and Treasure Trial need to improve to trouble the selection so the biggest threat to the selection is likely to come from one of the newcomers. Adiemus is a potentially useful recruit to the novice hurdling ranks. The son of Green Desert failed to win on the level last season but ended the campaign with a fine second to Chivalry (a winner since over hurdles) in the Cambridgeshire prior to a below par effort in another hot handicap at Ascot. Now in the care of Richard Phillips, he could be interesting. The 2001 Cesarewitch winner Distant Prospect makes a belated hurdling debut at the age of six and would probably want further so is passed over here. Amanda Perrett's Pagan Dance is another interesting recruit, while Martin Pipe's Trade Off showed signs of encouragement in a bumper on his debut but faces a stiff task on his first start over hurdles in a race where Albuhera sets the standard.
