held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, headway to track leading pair but not much room, switched left approaching 2 out, led soon after 2 out, drew clear flat, impressive
tracked leaders, effort to lead on bit approaching 2 out, headed soon after 2 out, outpaced and no chance with winner, flat
led to after 1st, stayed tracking leader to 3 out, weakened rapidly
in touch, chased leader 3 out to approaching 2 out, weakened quickly
made most, hung left from 3 out driven and headed appoaching 2 out, outpaced by leading pair and no chance when blundered last
held up in rear, hit 3rd, no impression leaders and weakened after 3 out
prominent, weakened and behind from 4th, tailed off
Inglis Drever can impress again, with Self Defense and Control Man out to stop him. Inglis Drever has quickly made his mark since going hurdling, looking for all the world like a Cheltenham Festival prospect when hacking up at Aintree two weeks ago. He cost owner Graham Wylie 110,000gns after being balloted out of the Ebor, and Sir Mark Prescott's loss is certain to be Howard Johnson's gain this term. They did not go fast enough for him on his debut but his class carried him through, and connections are keen to land this prize with the four-year-old. Self Defense showed his wellbeing with a comeback win over Albuhera and Contraband at Cheltenham recently. Both the runner-up and the third have franked the form since, and last season's Champion Hurdle fourth should be in the shake-up. So should Control Man who looked the part when storming home at Newton Abbot. The ex-French horse has a bright future, but this is a big test. Jessica Harrington's Green Belt Flyer, and Mister Flint look best of the rest, but are likely to be bit-part players only, with Inglis Drever expected to stamp his class.
