in touch, not fluent 1st, led approaching 3 out, ridden when hit 2 out, headed and not quicken close home
chased leaders, every chance from 3 out, ridden approaching last, not quicken close home
mid-division, headway and hit 5th, led 7th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened quickly
mid-division, mistake 6th, headway approaching 7th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway after 6th, every chance approaching 3 out, soon ridden and beaten
prominent, mistake 5th, weakened approaching 7th
led to 7th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway after 6th, weakened after 3 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
behind, hit 4th, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, switched left approaching last, ran on towards finish
pulled hard in rear, headway 2nd, weakening when mistake 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
in touch to approaching 7th
held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden when switched right approaching last, ran on to lead close home
Yaboya clearly has the ability to land this and it is interesting that Tony McCoy prefers him to Jonjo O'Neill's Taking My Cut but Philip Hobbs is going through something of a barren spell at present and preference is for Menchikov. The selection made a winning start to his hurdling career when landing a novices' event at Ludlow in November and lost no caste in defeat behind Predator at Doncaster over this trip subsequently. Today's softer surface should suit Nicky Henderson's French-bred gelding and he is taken to resume winning ways. Alan King's Five Colours sprung a surprise when landing odds of 50/1 at Hereford earlier this month and has to be respected but this looks tougher under his penalty. The Venetia Williams-trained Geordie Peacock should appreciate the underfoot conditions and is open to improvement so makes more appeal than Campaign Charlie, who would need to improve on the form shown on his hurdling debut at Hereford. In the belief that the ground will pose no problem though, Menchikov looks the one they all have to beat.
Five Colours (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) In touch, closer order 3 out, ridden 2 out, led soon after, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Principe Azzurro (11-4) by 10l, 16 ran.
Menchikov (FR) Evensfav (11-5) In touch, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Predator (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov hdl (E) gd in Dec.
Benefit Fund (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, weakened next pulled up at the last in race won by Montecorvino (11-5) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
Campaign Charlie 33-1 (11-4) Mid-division, hampered 5th, headway to chase leaders next, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 16, 25l behind Tokala (11-4) at Hereford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Geordie Peacock (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Chased leader, led after 7th, headed approaching next, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 15, 17l behind Ballyshan (11-6) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Incandescence (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Held up, never nearer, 6th of 13, well behind Pangbourne (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m mdn nhf (6) gs in Jan.
Lordington Lad 150-1 (11-5) Keen, led after 1st, headed 5th, every chance when fell 3 out in race won by Idris (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan, 14 ran.
Major Oak (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden over 4f out, every chance when edged right over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Unjust Law (11-8) at Bangor 2m 1f nhf (H) hvy in Dec.
Moritz (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Held up, never dangerous, 13th of 17, well behind Night Safe (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (H) gd in Dec.
Taking My Cut 18-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, headway 5th, carried left flat, kept but no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 10l behind Saltango (10-7) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gd in Nov.
The Bees Knees 33-1 (11-1) Always behind, tailed off, last of 14, well behind Karanja (11-3) at Windsor 2m nhf (H) sft in Dec '04.
Witness Run (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 14, 21l behind Idris (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Yaboya (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 2 out, no chance with winner approaching last, 2nd of 15, 12l behind Circassian (11-0) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
