One of the big staying hurdles of the season, and it was well up to scratch this time, the finish fought out by a couple of 160+-rated performers, with a dual winner of this race in third. The pace was steady to begin with, impacting the overall time, but was okay from mid-race and it still took a fair bit of stamina to prevail on ground that was more like soft than good to soft judged on times across the card (finishing speed just over 100%).
CHAMP (h163 here, 152+ previously) showed he is as good over hurdles as he had proved to be over fences, and possibly a more straightforward proposition as well with smaller obstacles in his way, looking like winning this easily at one point and ultimately responding well when challenged, going to the top of the pecking order in what is not a deep division. He took a strong hold tracking the pace, cruised up to lead before 2 out, seemed to idle, but then got on top again on the run-in.
THYME HILL (h161 here, 160 previously) ran well, over whatever ailed him in France the time before, runner-up in this race for the second year in a row. He tracked the pace taking a good hold initially, was tapped for toe after 3 out but got there with every chance between the last 2, held at the finish. There is every reason to expect him to continue to run well faced by this sort of test.
PAISLEY PARK (h158 here and previously) is not quite the horse he was (won this twice previously) but ran creditably on recent form and in a tongue tie in a race that did not test his stamina to the maximum, losing his place slightly after halfway and hard at work 3 out, staying on at the death.
THOMAS DARBY (h155 here, 154 previously) ran well (not favoured by the weights this time) and in fairly typical style, tracking the pace and responding to have a chance between the last 2 before finding little.
RONALD PUMP (h147 here, 157 previously) failed to get home up in trip and in second-time blinkers, quite free and helping to make the running, going as well as all bar the winner after 3 out but soon headed and done with. He’s better than this, if perhaps not quite as good as his second to Honeysuckle the time before made him look.
ON THE BLIND SIDE (h143 here, 153 previously) was below form but had his work cut out at his best in any case, helping make the running, but in trouble 4 out and one paced after.
THIRD WIND (h137 here, 149 previously) will probably strip fitter for this but was always in rear and may struggle at the top level (Grade 2 he won last season proved not to be all that strong).
LISNAGAR OSCAR (h0 here, 154? previously) looks to have fallen out of love with the game and could not be backed with confidence right now, travelling comfortably enough close up until soon in trouble going to 4 out and jumping slowly there, tailed off when pulled up.
