Expert Analysis

Another elite staying hurdle with little strength in depth (or even that much strength not-in-depth), especially after one of the leading contenders on form performed poorly. It was run at a good pace for the conditions, easily fastest of three races at the distance on the card, though that was exacerbated by deteriorating ground thereafter, the winner’s final 4f of 62.05s (103.7% finishing speed) only a bit faster than par.

BOTOX HAS (h153 here, 152 previously) is somewhat removed from high-class, but the fact that he usually turns up and gives his running has now bagged him 2 Grade 2 hurdles in the absence of the bigger guns. He travelled comfortably in second until shaken up after 4 out, leading before the next and on top fairly quickly, untidy at the last and pushed out. He’s probably be as good back around 20f when conditions are like these.

BUTCH (h139 here and previously) was well backed and ran creditably upped in class, leading until approaching 3 out then one paced, beaten on merit by the look of it.

MARTHA BRAE (h128 here, 127 previously) looked like finishing right out the back at one stage mid-race but kept on again late in the piece for a creditable effort.

RED RISK (h127 here, 147 previously) had at least as good a chance as Botox Has on their running at Wetherby in November but is less consistent than that one and found little for a below-form effort having travelled OK in third.

SOUNDS RUSSIAN (h127 here, ? previously) had not been seen since being brought down in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and offered only a little encouragement, held up and making a few minor errors, left further behind from after 4 out.

WAKOOL (h0 here, 139 previously) won this 12 months before but runs the odd poor race and did so again here, in trouble by halfway.