By no means a vintage edition of this prestigious contest, especially with Crambo blundering his way out of contention and Strong Leader getting going too late, though it still took smart efforts from the first 3. The pace was on the steady side, no more than that, with the winner’s final 4f of 57.32s equal to a finishing speed of 106.0%, though ground that was soft, tending to good to soft (much as given officially) ensured it represented a reasonable test.
GOWEL ROAD (h150 here and previously) paid something of a compliment to Lucky Place – who beat him here the time before, albeit at 20f – in capitalising on the substandard efforts of his 2 biggest dangers on form, leading/disputing the lead much of the way, going on again approaching the last and ridden out, edging right. He comes out slightly worse than the 2 he finished ahead of here at the weights but is proving ultra-reliable of late.
MONMIRAL (h152 here, 144 previously) ran his best race since finishing second to Epatante in the Aintree Hurdle in 2022, though his second to an on-form Strong Leader at Newbury the time before this was not far off it, travelling comfortably in touch until a mistake at 3 out, there with a chance going to the last and having to be switched but merely keeping on.
BOTOX HAS (h152 here, 152? previously) has become difficult to predict but returned to his best with the blinkers back on, disputing the lead for some time before going on narrowly after 3 out until approaching the last.
STRONG LEADER (h149 here, 157 previously) is able on his day but not without his quirks, running just respectably here after an abysmal effort at Ascot (had wind operation after), looking like being well beaten after 3 out but actually covering the final 4f quickest of all as he finally found his stride, unable to trouble the first 3 but not far behind them in the end. He is no forlorn hope in the Stayers’ Hurdle if in the mood.
CRAMBO (h140+ here, 156 previously) is best forgiven this as he all but came down at the eighth, given plenty of time to get back on an even keel and not persevered with once fading from 2 out. His appearances have been somewhat sporadic since his novice season, and he may not be the easiest to train.
TRANSMISSION (h133 here, 129 previously)
