held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, not clear run and switched left approaching last, led flat, comfortably
mid-division, headway and not fluent 6th, disputed 2nd when blundered badly and unseated rider 2 out
held up and keen, headway after 3 out, ridden and every chance approaching last, weakened flat
held up, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
mid-division until weakened after 3 out
in touch, chased leader 3rd to 2 out, soon weakened
chased leader to 2nd, behind from 4th, tailed off when refused 2 out
led, ridden last, headed and not quicken flat
prominent and not fluent, ridden after 3 out, weakened quickly
Harchibald has the class to prevail over Faasel, Intersky Falcon and Penzance to name but three. He might be labelled a bit of a thinker, but there is no doubting the fact that Harchibald has plenty of ability and can prove now that the hill holds no fears for him. Beaten in the 2004 County Hurdle after looking all over the winner, he then suffered the same fate in the Champion Hurdle in March, and there are those that reckon he just does not act on this track. Granted he was lucky to collect at Tipperary after Solerina came down, but he was still clear of the rest and as that was his seasonal reappearance, he should strip a lot fitter now. His stable is in form and by all accounts he did a sparkling piece of work recently. Faasel has a visor back on after his defeat to Admiral at Haydock, with his Triumph conquereor Penzance behind. Intersky Falcon was pulled up in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle but the ground was against him then and he is better judged on his earlier second to Royal Shakespeare whom he now meets on much better terms. He is better off with Sporazene as well, so he should at least have the measure of that pair. The rest are hard to fancy, and it is time for Harchibald to silence his doubters
Harchibald (FR) 7-4fav (11-12) Held up in 4th, headway after 2 out, close 3rd on inner when badly hampered early straight, soon switched, no impression from before last, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Brave Inca (11-12) at Punchestown 2m hdl Grd 2 sft in Nov.
Akilak (IRE) 8-13fav (11-0) Held up in touch, close 5th approaching 2 out, soon ridden, moderate and no impression before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 13l behind United (10-9) at Punchestown 2m 4yo hdl Grd 1 sft in Apr.
Faasel (IRE) 5-4fav (11-9) Held up in rear, ridden approaching last, led and hung left flat, headed last strides, 2nd of 4, shd behind Admiral (11-10) at Haydock 2m 4yo hcp hdl (B) gs in Nov.
Penzance 7-4 (11-10) In touch, went 2nd 3rd, hit 3 out, ridden after next, weakened flat, 3rd of 4, 8l behind Admiral (11-10) at Haydock 2m 4yo hcp hdl (B) gs in Nov.
Phar Bleu (FR) 5-2fav (11-8) Held up in touch, one pace when hit 2 out, soon hung left, no real impression after, 4th of 10, 5l behind Manorson (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (A) gd in Nov.
Royal Shakespeare (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Held up, joined leaders and raced wide 4th, led 4 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, one pace, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Arcalis (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) sft in Nov.
Westender (FR) 33-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened after 2 out, 10th of 19, 15l behind Lingo (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov.
Intersky Falcon 3-1 (11-7) Held up, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up 3 out in race won by Arcalis (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
Sporazene (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair when blundered and fell at the 3rd in race won by Kauto Star (11-7) at Sandown 2m chs Grd 1 (A) sft, 7 ran.
