held up in mid-division, ridden and some headway 3 out, eased when beaten 2 out
made all and set fast pace, ridden and quickened approaching 2 out, stayed on well flat
tracked leaders, ridden and effort 2 out, stayed on
held up last, headway 3 out, ridden approachnig 2 out, not quickened
held up towards rear, not fluent and reminder 1st, headway approaching 3 out, ran on well to chase winner from 3 out, no extra falt
prominent, not fluent 4th ridden 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
In the Elite Hurdle, we find it hard to oppose Rigmarole, with the ones to chase the place money being Chief Yeoman and Howle Hill. It's a case of the established performer taking on the young pretenders in this race as Champion Hurdle hope Rigmarole, whose excellent season last term - including a win here in the Kingwell Hurdle - was followed by an impressive winning seasonal return at Kempton last time. He is, quite clearly, the one to beat. Chief Yeoman and Howle Hill were useful juvenile novices last season and finished second and fifth in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, a race in which Tusk was twelfth. All three can have good seasons but maybe Howle Hill, who holds the benefit of a recent run, might prove best of them today. Albuhera was found out at the highest juvenile level last season, while Hand Inn Hand, a very useful chaser, cannot be fancied at this level over hurdles. Theoretically, with her being 12 pounds better off for the 12-and-a-half lengths she finished behind Rigmarole in last season's Kingwell, Grave Doubts can be given a chance, although she is probably flattered by that literal form. Finally, much as Perouse is talented and has scored over course and distance, he will be doing well to take this off a mark of 143. Once again, then, for the winner it is hard to oppose Rigmarole.
