Expert Analysis

The majority here failed to give their running – something of a feature on especially testing ground on the day, and not just at this course, either – but there are good reasons to view the form favourably and the winner especially so. The overall time was remarkably good compared to the Rendlesham Hurdle (which was 8.9s slower) and the handicap (11.9s slower), and ahead of those races throughout, Hillstar taking off again late on when it might be imagined his earlier exertions would begin to tell (104.5% finishing speed), the runner-up possibly flattered to get as close as 8 lengths when in receipt of 5lb.

HILLCREST (h152+ here, 145 previously) put up an extraordinary performance to justify the high praise heaped on him by his trainer, who regards him as the best he has trained, looking a horse who could go a very long way over hurdles or when put over fences, with his strapping physique auguring well for the latter. He helped set a strong pace until getting a bit of a breather on the home turn then forged on again, making a mistake 3 out but drawing away again on the run-in, kept up to his work. He is not certain to run at Cheltenham but would have strong claims in the Albert Bartlett if he did.

CRYSTAL GLORY (h139 here, 135 previously) confirmed himself a useful novice, for all that he might have been flattered to finish so close to the impressive winner, held up off the strong pace before going second before 3 out (where he made an error), getting to just a few lengths down before left trailing again on the run-in. His handicap mark will suffer for this, but perhaps not enough to stop him being of interest in that sphere.  

SCIPION (h100 here, 131 previously) was not going from an early stage, also jumping less than fluently, but managed to make brief headway from off the pace on the home turn before weakening again and well below form.

GREEN BOOK (h0 here, 136 previously) ended up running badly but seemed to suffer from matching strides with the talented winner for a long way at a strong pace, jumping sloppily before capitulating on the home turn. He has had quite a busy time of things but should be back to form in due course. 

HIGH STAKES (h0 here, 134 previously) ran badly, disputing the pace early but in trouble and some way back from halfway, probably just having an off day.

READYSTEADYBEAU (h0 here, 115 previously) had a lot on and failed to threaten, pushed along by halfway.

ANGLERS CRAG (h0 here, 116 previously) had a lot on but travelled okay off the pace until going to 4 out, where he made a mistake, then tiring.