Expert Analysis

According to the ATR sectionals this was not the helter-skelter type of pace that such a big field can often produce round here. The winner has dropped significantly in the weights, and this extra half a mile seemed to be in his favour. Iberico Lord won with plenty to spare and has been raised accordingly to a new mark of 144. As is often the case, the race unfolded middle to high off the final bend into the home straight.

IBERICO LORD This was a super impressive looking return to form over this longer trip. He jumped and travelled well throughout before surging clear in the home straight. Even if he is back to his best, however, he still has to prove that he can win off his new rating. He won the Betfair Hurdle whilst competing off 134 and had not added to that success in six attempts until today.

DOUBLE POWERFUL After failing to finish in each of his latest three races, it was no surprise to see him held up in last place with a clear round surely the first objective. He did much better than that as he made up a tremendous amount of ground from the omitted third last hurdle to the winning line. He has only been raised 2lbs to 138 for this second place finish and I imagine he will be kept to the smaller obstacles after this extremely positive performance. Without that recent history he may well have given the winner a lot more to think about and he can be counted as a slightly unfortunate runner up. His profile suggests he can stay further than this trip and he could yet take a decent prize this season. He had previously proved to be a most consistent horse over the smaller obstacles as his 6/16 win to run ratio would suggest.

A PAI DE NOM There was no hard luck story attached to the third place finish of this heavily backed favourite. He enjoyed a positive trip round and was on the inside of the winner turning for home. From thereon in he was quickly left behind by Iberico Lord before staying on well enough to hang on for third place.

FASOL He did best of the prominent runners and can be marked up accordingly.

LANESBOROUGH After being trapped on the inside rail on the turn for home he eventually found his way to the wide outside losing ground and momentum in the process. His form with Williethebuillder has worked out particularly well and he can be marked up on his losing margins here given the way the race unfolded for him in the latter stages.

IKE SPORT He is now on a losing run of 14 races and yet, conversely, appears to be in the form of his life in his latest two races. He seemed to stay three miles really well last time out and stayed on powerfully in the home straight again here. I suspect we will see him stepped back up in trip after this very promising finishing effort.

FRENCH SHIP Although he was carrying a big weight I wonder if his connections might still feel a little disappointed in his performance. Personally, I would suggest this proved to be too much of a speed test for him on good ground round a less galloping track than last time. His progressive profile may be a little disguised after this run.

BEAT THE BAT He did best of those horses that remained close to the inside for most of the race and can be marked up as such. He is not the quickest, and so the combination of the sharper track and good ground would not have played to his strengths. He also jumped in the manner of a horse returning to hurdles after a spin round in a chase. He is generally very reliable in these big field handicaps and there is every chance we will see him finish in the first few once again in a festival handicap in the spring, assuming he is kept over hurdles at this relatively late stage of the season.

GOODWIN He gave himself no chance by jumping out violently to his left at many of his hurdles. I think it is safe to draw a line through this performance and mark him up when he will surely be switched to a left handed course in future.

JUST A ROSE She made too many mistakes and her jumping did not stand up to this test.