Daily Mirror

SUN BETS STAYERS’ HURDLE

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1P1-3F (77) (D, BF)

5-6fav (11-12) Prominent, slight mistake 4th, 3rd when fell 10th in a race won by Snow Falcon (11-12) at Leopardsto­wn 2m 5f beg chs in Dec, 5 ran Things haven’t gone to plan over fences but a Grade 1-winning hurdler as a novice last spring and this trip looks worth a try /U4-11 (26) (D)

7-1 (11-2) With leader, led 4 out, kept on well towards finish, won at Haydock 2m 7f hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb beating Agrapart (11-8) by 2¼l, 5 ran Personal bests on both starts this year with handicap and then Grade 2 hurdle scores at Haydock, but a good bit more needed here -21223 (47) (H) (BF)

13-8fav (11-7) Headway 4 out, ridden before last, not much room towards finish, 3rd of 13, ¾l behind Wakanda (11-0) at Doncaster 3m lstd hcp chs (1) sft in Jan No doubting what’s under the bonnet but doesn’t always find what’s needed off the bridle, including when second to Sam Spinner at Ascot 0-3162 (18) (BF)

5-2fav (11-9) Led 7th until 2 out, chased winner, held last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 1½l behind Old Guard (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 3f hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb Fine second in this race 12 months ago and, although hasn’t matched that form in five starts since, podium finish couldn’t be ruled out 131541 (18) (C)

11-4 (11-7) Led narrowly 2 out, over 1 length ahead last, stayed on run-in, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 3f hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb bt Lil Rockerfell­er (11-9) by 1 l, 8 ran Has made the frame last two starts at the highest level and worth his place in the line-up, but the return to three miles could be the problem 14112- (323) (BF, CD) (EW)

2-1fav (11-10) Ridden, went 2nd at last, kept on under pressure run-in, 2nd of 8, 2 behind Champagne Classic (11-10) at Punchestow­n 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) in Apr Emphatic winner of the three-mile Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle here last March but unraced since the spring and probably second string to Bacardys 11-211 (82) (D) (SF)

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9-2 (11-7) Made all, stayed on gamely to go further clear run-in, won at Ascot 3m hdl G1 (1) gs in Dec beating L’Ami Serge (11-7) by 2¾l, 8 ran Going-places hurdler graduated from wide-margin handicap win at Haydock to lift Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot and there’s more to come 12-321 (40) (C) (F)

8-1 (11-10) Pushed along from 2 out, challenged straight, led and stayed on well, won at Leopardsto­wn 2m hdl G1 (1) sft in Feb beating Faugheen (11-10) by 2¼l, 8 ran Coral Cup hero of 2017 gained first Grade 1 success in (two-mile) Irish Champion Hurdle latest and big player if matching that run over three -14221 (54) (C)

Evensfav (11-10) Led, ridden before last, headed run-in, led towards finish, won at Haydock 2m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Ch’tibello (11-4) by ½l, 4 ran One of jumping’s best-loved horses would bring the house down if winning at his sixth Festival but has to prove stamina at this trip F1-044 (47)

5-1 (11-3) Ridden after 2 out, kept on under pressure from last, no impression with leaders, 4th of 9, 16l behind Agrapart (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan Going well when falling two out behind Penhill last year. Won at the top level at Aintree, but things haven’t gone to plan this term 31-123 (82) (BF, CD)

6-4fav (11-7) Tracked winner after 2 out, ridden after last, no impression flat, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Sam Spinner (11-7) at Ascot 3m hdl G1 (1) gs in Dec Aura of invincibil­ity has gone since 2016 Albert Bartlett winner’s defeat in this race 12 months ago, but still capable of giving a good account -42612 (47) (CD)

9-2 (11-6) Led after 2 out, headed narrowly flat, kept on until no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Agrapart (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan Third behind Penhill 12 months ago and, although needs to find a few pounds to win, his record round Cheltenham will appeal to many 1-1F21 (73) (C)

15-8fav (11-0) Led last, idled, pressed inside final 100 yards, , won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Sizing Tennessee (11-3) by nk, 5 ran A curate’s egg over fences and now back over hurdles, but Grade 1 defeat of Supasundae at Aintree last spring makes him a danger to all 11-1113 (2) (C, D)

1-2f (11-5) Led until 6th, tracked leader, challenged after 3 out, stayed on same pace from last, 3rd of 9, 1½l behind Benie Des Dieux at Cheltenham 2m4f G1 (1) hvy Ran below par in Mares’ Hurdle for in-form yard when odds-on favourite and was being inspected by a vet. Looks very unlikely to run 15-642 (49)

8-1 (11-3) Switched left before last, no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Presenting Percy (11-3) at Gowran Park 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan Gained success at the highest level when beating her own gender at Fairyhouse last April, but needs to pull out more against male opposition 5-1433 (47) (D)

10-1 (10-13) Went 3rd approachin­g last, ridden and kept on flat, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Agrapart (11-6) Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan Beat Wholestone under these conditions at Wetherby on her return but behind that rival the last twice and looks to have work to do 24-F15 (49) (C, BF)

9-4fav (11-1) Headway 3 out, no impression 2 out, soon no extra, weakened, 5th of 7, 33l behind Presenting Percy (11-3) at Gowran Park 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan

Landed mares’ novice hurdle here in 2017 but well beaten at Gowran Park on first try at three miles last time out and so overlooked here

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