Something of a re-run of Cheltenham's World Hurdle, albeit on a track that places much more emphasis on speed, and under penalty conditions that produced an 8lb weight range. The time was on the slow side, but the pace set by Starzaan was steady and theywere racing into a strong headwind up the home straight.

There was always a chance that MIGHTY MAN would be better suited by this track, where he won as a novice last year, than Cheltenham, and with the aid of a 4lb pull he comprehensively reversed the 4-length beating he got there from the World Hurdle winner My Way de Solzen. Travelling well throughout, closer to the pace than used to be the case but nicely settled, he was clearly going well as they approached the straight, and from two out he and My Way de Solzen started to draw further and further clear. Mighty Man always had his rival's measure, and he won well. He is likely to stay over hurdles for now, as he is on the small side and still might not be mentally mature enough for fences yet, but he is growing up and getting better, and he will be a force to reckon with in all of the top staying hurdles again next term.

My Way de Solzen was prominent throughout. A mistake four out might have unsettled him, but he came back on the bridleon the turn and Mighty Man was simply too good for him at the weights on the day. He is unlikely to run again unless the heavens open, so this is probably it for the season, but he will probably be schooled over fences in the summer, and his defeat here makes it easier for connections to go down that route. After all, competition is going to be hot in this arena next season, with Inglis Drever back and Black Jack Ketchum coming through, and he could one day be a Gold Cup horse, so it would be unwise to wait too long.

No Refuge, wearing a first-time visor, was getting reminders after hitting the fourth, but he travelled better afterwards. He was no match at all for the first two, but he ultimately stayed on well enough to suggest the trip was not aproblem. An earlier unconvincing effort over the trip was attributed to a stone bruise, and connections have plenty of options now. Fences are among them, and he is likely to be schooled this summer.

Carlys Quest was detached in last most of the way but stayed on past beaten horses when the race was over, as he is inclined to do. He will presumably be going back to Punchestown again, where he excelled himself by winning the Grade 1 last year, but he will want testing conditions to have any chance of a repeat. The rest were well strung out.

Redemption continues to frustrate and had no real excuse, and the return to hurdles failed to show his stablemate Fundamentalist in a better light. Big Moment, another back over hurdles, was one of several to get warm on a cold, blustery day and with the exception of Dom D'Orgeval they all ran moderately, the World Hurdle fourth Fire Dragon, who was on the retreat onthe home turn, and long-time leader Starzaan being the others. However, one horse among those well beaten who does deserve plenty of credit is Classified, who was returning from an absence of 1,120 days yet was still in third when blundering badly through tiredness at the last. He is 10 now and has had leg problems, but he plainly retains plenty of ability.[GD]

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