This looked a cracking renewal of an always fiercely competitive handicap. Only 15lb separated the 30 runners, there was plenty of Graded-race form and the Irish sent their usual strong squad of unexposed performers. It was one of those Irish raiders, SKY'S THE LIMIT, who won. But he didn't just win, he absolutely sluiced up, defying joint top weight with the sort of ease rarely seen in a handicap of such quality. Second to Feathard Lady when conceding 3lb in November and a winner on his most recent start the following month, he came here in a first-time visor, having worn blinkers when contesting conditions hurdles over shorter trips. Quite obviously laid out for this, he arrived on the scene still fully on the bridle and proceeded to laugh at his rivals, soaring over the final flight and ambling towards the line without being placed under any sort of meaningful pressure. On the evidence of this performance, he is at least a stone better than the mark he ran off, and that leaves him on the fringes of the top rank of hurdlers. Also, he has age on his side and is an unexposed profile as well, which all suggests his future will not be in handicaps but in the top Graded hurdles, possibly to the extent that a crack at the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle might well be worthwhile. His win - and the second-place finish of Strangely Brown - represents another victory for the BHB and its handicappers in the war of words over the treatment of Irish handicap hurdlers. Sky's The Limit raced off a 7lb higher mark than he would have done in Ireland, and, although he would be an almost impossible horse for anyone to handicap, his victory - combined with that of Victram at Sandown on Saturday - suggests the treatment of Irish horses in Britain is more than fair.

Strangely Brown held the rare distinction of being a top-flight winner in a handicap, having landed France's premier four-year-old hurdle last June. He had not been in the same form since, but this looks to be his time of the year, because he ran a screamer, his only misfortune being to come up against an impossible-to-beat opponent.

Dom d'Orgeval has been in wonderful form this winter and has shot up the handicap as a result, but he continues to defy the hikes imposed upon him. He ran the best race of his life under joint top weight, particularly so as he prefers much softer ground and was on his nose at the flight at the top of the hill. He still had a huge amount to do jumping two out but, like a few others, he flew up the hill. Connections are unsure whether it will be hurdles or fences for him next season, but a trip to Auteuil could be on the agenda before a summer break comes his way.

Verasi and Ungaro also flew from the last. Verasi had run third in the Imperial Cup only four days earlier, and is at the height of his powers, while Ungaro did nothing wrong off a mark 7lb higher than when he won at Sandown. He has come into his own this season and continued improvement is anticipated.

Inch Pride ran better than her finishing position would indicate, because she was always up there and was asked to win her race at the top of the hill. Off the track since falling at Aintree in November, she caught the eye with this effort, particularly as so many of her stable have been flopping. She is well positioned to make hay during the spring.

Mughas and Valley Ride ran sound races, but the handicapper appears to have their measure. Further back, Manorson weakened but only after being among the pacesetters for a long way. He will be better for the run and would be of interest in an Aintree handicap.

Stablemates Prins Willem and Pole Star were disappointing, as was Mister Quasimodo, who stopped alarmingly quickly. However, this was a different sort of contest to the novice races he has been contesting, and his overall form confirms he is way better than he showed here.

The race's hard-luck story has to concern All Star. His record suggested this sort of trip was what he wanted, and he was making rapid inroads into the leaders when he ran out at the second-last flight. It is inconceivable that he would have beaten the winner, but he would very probably have been placed.

Good Thyne Jack stumbled at the first, after which his jumping went to pieces. Much less fortunate was No Where To Hyde, who took a fatal fall at the final flight. [LM]

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