Cresswell Willow jumped proficiently, made all, drew 6 lengths clear after 14th, driven 2 out, looked vulnerable last, kept on gamely

Eurocelt close up, ridden to dispute 2nd from 13th, no impression when mistake 3 out, closed from next, never able to challenge

Desert Tommy not always fluent, mostly chased winner, hard ridden after 13th, no impression next, kept on from 2 out, never able to challenge

Rathlin Island close up, mistake 6th, reminders 11th, soon weakened and well tailed off

Oncle Kid settled in last pair, effort 13th, about 5 lengths 4th and going well enough when crashing fall 4 out

Captain Windsor settled in last pair, blundered 8th and reminders, weakened 13th, poor 4th when blundered 2 out and pulled up

There did not seem to be much in the way of quality on show beforehand, and there turned out to be even less with Desert Tommy failing to fire. However, nothing should be taken away from CRESSWELL WILLOW, who made all, fought gamely and won. Her point-to-point victory in March amounted to little, and the same is probably true of this success, but her heart is in the right place and, if anybody wants her, she is on the market.

Eurocelt is only rated 85, which says a lot about the form of this race, but he surely ran at least up to his mark, whereas Pertemps Hurdle sixth Desert Tommy ran a stinker on his debut over fences. Although he did not make any mistakes, he also did not seem to be a complete natural over fences, and at no point lookedhappy. His rider was giving him taps after a circuit and smacking him after two circuits, and from that point on he was fighting a losing battle. He is clearly better than this, but this was not an auspicious start to his new career.

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