Like the first division, this proved quite a test for novices and TEETON BABYSHAM got a perfect ride in the circumstances. Held up well off a pace that was not exactly steady given the conditions, he moved into contention going easily and had still not been asked for an effort when his main challenger Billesey, whom he was upsides, fell at the second-last. He would almost certainly have won in any case and, although obviously flattered by the margin, this was a most promising introduction to Rules. A winning point-to-pointer over three miles, his future is very much in staying chases and he will apparently not be given too hard a time over hurdles.

Billesey, who offered plenty of promise on his hurdling debut over two and a half miles here on his previous start, would almost certainly have finished second had he not fallen - he was responding gamely to pressure. If this has not left its mark, he should win a similar race.

Call Me Anything, having just his second start over hurdles, was racing over a mile further than he had tried before and ran with credit on his return from a 451-day break.

Here We Go made promising headway before the turn into the straight, but could not sustain his effort in his first run beyond 19 furlongs.

Blue Splash showed promise in two runs in bumpers, but would have found this a different test altogether and unsurprisingly failed to last home.

Buffers Lane won a point-to-point on easy ground in Ireland, so he could have been expected to handle this stamina test, but he failed to complete and was a little disappointing.

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