Plenty of deadwood in this novices' hurdle, but that's not unusual and ILE MAURICE ultimately had no difficulty defying a penalty. Having been slightly hampered three out, just as she was taking closer order, she galloped strongly into the lead at the next and quickly had this race in safe-keeping. Essentially a soft-ground stayer, three miles would hold no fears for her.

Verstone ran a fair race in second, stepping up in trip.

Political Pendant, who kept on, looks to be going the right way as she gains hurdling experience.

Fortuna Favente, making her hurdling debut after showing some ability in bumpers last season, was well beaten.

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