Pettifour led to 5th, chased leaders, driven approaching 3 out, slight lead last, hard ridden and stayed on, all out

Gone To Lunch with leader, led 5th, quickened 8th, narrowly headed last, hard ridden and edged left, no extra near finish

The Tother One held up in rear, headway 9th, soon chasing leaders, challenging 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last

Nenuphar Collonges chased leaders, driven along 8th, ridden 10th, outpaced approaching next, stayed on run-in

La Vecchia Scuola held up in last, headway 10th, 5th and one pace when blundered last

Tazbar in rear, pushed along 7th, some headway 9th, outpaced approaching 3 out, no threat after

Souffleur in rear, outpaced 8th, some headway approaching 3 out, never a factor

Sound Accord chased leaders on outer, driven and lost place 10th

Middleton Dene held up towards rear, some headway 8th, lost place 10th

Logans Run tracked leaders, lost place after 10th, soon behind

Quickbeam with leaders, weakened 3 out

Bonnie Rock chased leaders, lost place 10th

Bulwark in rear, driven and headway 8th, lost place 10th, behind when blundered and rider lost irons next, soon pulled up

Four of the first six in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle took each other on again, but the presence of Tazbar meant this race, which has been won by the likes of Black Jack Ketchum, Asian Maze and Iris's Gift in recent seasons, looked stronger than the Cheltenham contest.

The riders elected to go at what could diplomatically be described as a sensible pace for the first circuit, and very few of the runners were able to get competitive, with only PETTIFOUR, Gone To Lunch and The Tother One in with a chance from before the third-last. Pettifour had won both his starts over hurdles - the first of which only came in January - and he looked up against it, as his performances had not exactly set the world alight and were against notably easier company. Having said that, he undoubtedly used up valuable energy when getting loose before his most recent start, and the way he had raced previously had suggested this longer trip would be to his liking. He was in a prominent position throughout on this occasion, jumped into the lead at the final flight and showed plenty of guts to get the better of the second on the run-in. The sponsors introduced him at 16-1 for next year's Ladbrokes World Hurdle, but recent winners of this type of event have failed to make a splash when stepping out of novice company. On what we have seen, there is no reason to believe Pettifour will halt that trend.

Gone To Lunch had been going great guns in the first half of the season before he was set stiffer tests. This is, however, the fourth time he has run respectably in defeat since he completed a four-timer in November. His rider tried to take advantage of the lack of early pace, and his mount was only run out of it late on, drifting left-handed on the run-in when he started to get tired. There could be plenty more to come from him.

The Tother One's defeat at Cheltenham was blamed on his hitting the front too soon. While such excuses can't be offered this time, there is no doubt the hold-up performer would not have been suited by the pedestrian early pace.

Le Vecchia Scuola was held up to try to get this trip for the first time. She gradually picked off her rivals before blundering at the last. She should have no problems with this trip in time, though perhaps not at such a high level.

Plenty was expected from Tazbar but so little was delivered. He was shaken up with a full circuit to go, and despite making some headway after the fourth-last, he could make up no ground late on. Connections reported that the race was not run to suit him, but suggested that this was probably plenty tough enough for him at this stage in his career. They added, though, that his season may not yet be over, although no plans have been confirmed.

Souffleur came here off the back of a narrow defeat on the Flat 12 days earlier. He had won twice here, but when he hit the fifth it was clear he would not be adding to that score.

Sound Accord looked like he had plenty to do and he never lookedlike getting involved. The challenges of Middleton Dene and Logans Run proved to be shortlived. Quickbeam made a mistake at the last but he was well beaten at the time. Bonnie Rock had been going well in lesser company at Newcastle recently. A drop back in class may bring a revival in fortunes. The quirky Flat performer Bulwark is still looking for a first win over hurdles. He was out of contention when he blundered and was pulled up late on. [PE]

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