Reporter: Tony Keenan
This Listed handicap hurdle is a stiff test to start with, run over the extended three miles one furlong at a galloping track in December, but turned into a slog with rain continuing through the card, the runners racing on chewed up ground as this was the fifth of five hurdle races on the card. The two initial front-runners were pulled up while the one that picked up the lead then was beaten 34 lengths and the closing sectional from three out was 10.4 seconds slower than the next slowest hurdle race on the card.
shaped well on return over a shorter trip on return and relished this extreme test, roasted along to take a good position early, moving forward mid-race then switching down the rail for some relatively better ground late. He wasn’t always helped by a loose horse late, and although an 11lbs hike makes life tougher over hurdles, he does have the option of going back chasing, where he has a much lower mark (113 versus 131) while also being unexposed.
was reverting from fences and having looked stretched by this trip last season, stayed on well with his yard in much better form now.
was having his first run since Easter and shaped well, especially with a view to trying marathon trips over fences. He was hampered after halfway but stayed on well amidst patchy hurdling and should improve for this run.
was never competitive but stayed on late. He looks in need of an even stiffer test.
didn’t get home having raced keenly and is worth a go down in distance. He travelled well between the final two before his early exertions took their toll.
picked up the running after the early front-runners faded but didn’t get home. His stable is quiet now.
was never going last time when well-beaten in a valuable handicap hurdle at Haydock but ran better here in first-time cheekpieces without really suggesting he will be winning soon.
was pulled up but made a brief moved into contention after four out. This sort of race has long been too much of a test for him.
looked well-handicapped on his Fairyhouse third at Easter when unlucky but was forced into unseating his rider when a stablemate hampered him at the ninth.
