Binocular tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd 2 out, led on bit last, shaken up and quickened clear, easily

Celestial Halo led quickened 4th, ridden 2 out, headed last, no chance with winner

Harper Valley chased leaders, not fluent, went 2nd 6th, blundered next, weakened between last 2

Star Of Angels in touch, hit 2nd, went prominent 5th, weakened approaching 3 out

First Buddy tracked leaders, took keen hold, blundered 1st, ridden and weakened 3 out

Lupanar not fluent in rear, behind from 4th

Quilver Tatou in rear, behind from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out

Pagan Starprincess in rear, headway 4th, hit next, went 4th after 3 out, 10 lengths 4th when fell last

Make Haste in rear, behind from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out

Chord chased leader to 6th, soon lost place and behind, pulled up before next

The fourth running of this race as a Grade 1 attracted the smallest field since it was upped to that status and the smallest full stop since Hors La Loi got the better of just five rivals in 1999. The last two winners of this, Katchit and Detroit City, came here off the back of wins in the Triumph Hurdle, and on both occasions their major rivals consisted of horses they had got the better of at Cheltenham. This time round however, the Triumph winner Celestial Halo looked to have more on his plate in theshape of BINOCULAR, who was taking on his own age group once again having beaten all bar Captain Cee Bee in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last time out.

It had not always been the plan for him to go to Cheltenham, and had connections stuck with their original route and bypassed the festival in favour of this race, he would have been unbeaten in three starts over hurdles this season, with the last performance in particular especially taking. Although he raced a bit keenly early on, he was soon travelling well when hot on the heels of the leader and his rider bided his time patiently before taking it up at the last, winning easily. The different tactics here, where his main rival was in front of him, suited this speed horse, whose jumping looks to begetting slicker with each start. Initial quotes after the race of 12-1 and 10-1 about him for next season's Champion Hurdle with Coral and William Hill respectively were shortlived with the pair going 9-1 and 8-1. He still has plenty to find on Katchit, but if he continues to go the right way, he could emerge as a real contender next year.

Celestial Halo now has a pair of ones and a pair of twos next to his name after four starts over hurdles. His previous defeat was blamed on him being undercooked, but it would be hard to blame this reversal on anything else other than coming up against a rival who on the day was better. A smart middle-distance performer on the Flat, there remains the suspicion that despite his win in the Triumph he will still beseen to better effect over further. Having said that, connections have already decided that they will start him over 2m next year, with a tilt at the Champion Hurdle his The others finished at intervals, with HarperValley fading on the run-in to be beaten a total of 20 lengths back in third. A winner at Cheltenham in December, he was a disappointment the last time he was seen over hurdles before scoring on the Flat last week. He got in close at the second and third flights as well as making mistakes three out and two out. Connections were however pleased with his effort here and he is likely to go to Punchestown next, before returning to the Flat over the summer.

Star Of Angels looked up against it if he was going to post a first win over hurdles here. He was ridden along before they straightened up and looked onepaced from three out. His fourth place finish was probably down to the last flight fall of Pagan Starprincess, who looked booked for that position before coming to grief. First Buddy weakened three out after racing keenly early on, while the other finisher Lupanar never really looked a factor, and was ridden along as soon as jumping the third, making a mistake at the next. [PE]    

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