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| Horse | FSF | Comments
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| Inglis Drever | 152 | Inglis Drever became the first horse to win the Stayers Hurdle three times. Travelling kindly for Denis O’Regan, he made his usual move coming down the hill and jumped the last upsides Kasbah Bliss. For a few strides, it looked as though the younger horse would spoil the party; however, Inglis Drever put his head down all the way to the line and simply would not be denied. A remarkable horse and a remarkable performance. Retirement talk was in the air post-race. Having been beaten the last three times he has visited Aintree, it is be hoped he finishes his career on a winning note.
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| Kasbah Bliss | 151 | Kasbah Bliss ran a mighty race in the Stayers Hurdle and only the superior staying power of Inglis Drever denied him. He conclusively proved he stayed the trip at Prestbury Park and as he will only be seven-years-old he has to be considered a winner in waiting all things being equal.
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| Osana | 150 | Osana did not travel or hurdle with the fluency he showed he in December. I believe had he run up to his very best rating, he would have won the Champion Hurdle. Nevertheless, he battled all the way and never gave up chasing Katchit up Cheltenham’s unforgiving hill. His sire has thrown many decent chasers, and a switch to fences with the Arkle as his Festival target, is being considered.
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| Blazing Bailey | 148 | Blazing Bailey ran on well to grab fourth place in the Stayers Hurdle. He is yet to convince he stays this trip in a truly run race and may always be best around two miles five furlongs.
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| Katchit | 147 | Katchit has never been short on bravery or tenacity. The little horse put both those qualities to good use as he battled up his beloved Cheltenham hill to become the first five-year-old to win the Champion Hurdle since See You Then in 1985. Sure to improve as he strengthens he will be a tough nut to crack in next seasons renewal.
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| Sublimity | 147 | Sublimity has not had the best of preparations and ran an exceptional race to be fourth in the Champion Hurdle. Moving through to challenge at the last he looked a danger to all. However, a clumsy jump cost him momentum and he emptied quickly on the run in. If he comes out of the race in one piece, he will be a danger to all in his next race.
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| Kazal | 145 | Kazal ran a blinder in the Stayers Hurdle and he is clearly back to his best. Punchestown is on the agenda now and he will hard to beat if able to reproduce this effort. Long-term if he can learn to jump fences properly, he would be very exciting.
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| Punjabi | 144 | Punjabi confirmed his improving profile with an excellent effort to finish third in the Champion Hurdle. He may now go to Aintree and his trainer will apparently step him up in distance. I am not sure if he will stay two and a half miles despite the promise shown here.
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| Captain Cee Bee | 141 | Captain Cee Bee defied his absence from the racecourse since last November taking the Supreme Novices Hurdle in good style. He was never travelling easily during the race; however, his jockeys persistence paid off as he came through to challenge Binocular on the run to the last hurdle. Displaying a good attitude, he came away up the hill on ground that was probably softer than he cares for. Connections will almost certainly send him chasing next season, on good or good to soft ground he should make up into an above average performer.
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| Celestial Halo | 137 | Celestial Halo put his disappointing run at Doncaster behind him with a fine display of front running. A somewhat nervous individual, he enjoyed himself out in front, jumping and travelling well throughout the race. Both Celestial Halo and Binocular achieved an FSF rating, which suggests with normal progress for age development they both have a serious chance of shaking up Katchit in 2009.
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| Refinement | 137 | Refinement through away her chance of Festival glory in the Mares Hurdle, right on the line. McCoy was hard at work for the majority of the race and his persistence looked like paying off half way up the run in as she finished the race strongly. However, she pulled herself up and was mugged on the line. This was a bitter pill to swallow and one that got away.
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| Snap Tie | 136 | Snap Tie’s chances were compromised when the rain fell over Prestbury Park. Nevertheless, he ran an excellent race to finish third to Captain Cee Bee in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. He looks sure to continue to improve as he develops. Likely to go chasing next season, he is another who will figure in the early Arkle markets. His Cheltenham record over hurdles, suggests he will be a force to be reckoned with on good ground.
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| Binocular | 137 | Binocular ran a blinder for an inexperienced performer in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. He travelled well and jumped far more fluently than was the case at Kempton Park. He only gave best on the run in and the future looks bright for this classy ex-flat performer. Nicky Henderson did not have a runner in the Triumph and it seems reasonable to suggest Binocular, whose FSF rating is identical to Celestial Halo’s, would have had big say in the outcome.
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| Group Captain | 136 | Group Captain travelled well for a long way before finding the principals too strong in the Ballymore Hurdle. Flat performers have a poor record in the race, and this would have been the first time he had raced on such an undulating course. Group Captain had quite a hard race and Aintree may come too quickly for him. However, if Alan King decides to run him I feel the course would suit him admirably.
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| Franchoek | 135 | Franchoek ran his heart out in the Triumph Hurdle, though in reality he never looked likely to pass Celestial Halo on the run in. Despite staying two-miles on the flat, one wonders if he saw this two mile one furlong trip out as well as the winner.
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| Chomba Womba | 135 | Chomba Womba was going best of all turning for home in the Mares race and may need a flat track to stay two and a half miles. Alternatively, she may be best suited to a shorter trip as previously suggested.
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| Venalmar | 134 | Ballymore Hurdle runner-up Venalmar ran a gallant race in defeat only giving best on the run in. Up in the van the whole way, he was carried out on his shield after failing to match the speed Fiveforthree produced. A chaser in the making we may see him back here in the SunAlliance chase next year.
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| Fiveforthree | 134 | Fiveforthree has the ability to go a long way if he brushes his jumping. A rushed preparation following a cracked rib injury makes his performance in the Ballymore Hurdle all the more meritorious. Another almost certain to go chasing next season, he promises to figure in all the top novice races. His dam has Celestial Gold on her CV; this fellow may turn out to be as good as he is in the fullness of time.
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| Whiteoak | 133 | Whiteoak ran on gamely to snatch the Mares Hurdle out of the fire on the line. A credit to connections she will be a valuable addition to the breeding ranks.
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| Won In The Dark | 132 | Won In The Dark ran on well in the closing stages of the Triumph Hurdle without ever looking likely to trouble the first two home. He will no doubt hold his own in decent races, though he is perhaps a Grade Two performer at best.
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| Forpadydeplasterer | 132 | Forpadydeplasterer has always been considered an embryo chaser in the making. On this occasion, when the chips were down, he was unable to match the first three homes in the Ballymore Hurdle. Nevertheless, he travelled well throughout the race and as with so many of the horses on view in the race looks sure to make his mark next season over the larger obstacles.
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| Trafford Lad | 132 | Trafford Lad has stamina in abundance and he simply lacked the speed of the first two in the Ballymore. A fine looking animal he should make up into a top-class novice chaser and the SunAlliance Chase will beckon if all goes well for him.
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| Crack Away Jack | 131 | Crack Away Jack was given a peach of a ride by Paul Carberry to take the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle. Held up at the back of the field, he came through to take up the running at the final hurdle and showed a fine turn of foot up the hill. He has not stopped improving all season and still looks green when asked to go about his business. He is clearly going to be a threat if turned out in the four-year-old championship hurdle at Aintree, and long-term the future looks bright.
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| Ashkazar | 130 | Ashkazar tried to repeat his front running victory in the Imperial Cup the previous Saturday. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to hold the sprint finish of Crack Away Jack on the run in despite rallying on the run in. He should improve considerably over the summer and looks an exciting prospect for next season.
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| Nenuphar Collonges | 129 | Nenuphar Collonges’s battling qualities landed the Spa Hurdle. He looked beaten as the leaders jumped the second last. However, his stamina came into play and he stayed on under pressure all the way up the run in. Flicking his ears close home, suggests there was more in the tank and he should make up into an above average long distance chaser next season.
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| The Tother One | 128 | The Tother One ran an excellent race, until the field turned for home. He then started to run around, giving Sam Thomas a torrid time on the run to the final flight. Unable to find any extra on the run in, he looked to fail for stamina. However, the way he travelled throughout the race suggests there will be plenty more pay days for him in the future.
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