Elusive Dream chased leaders, mistake 3rd, not fluent 7th, mistake next, led 3 out, driven out

Whiteoak held up, headway 3 out, chased winner and pecked last, stayed on under pressure

Franchoek held up, headway 6th, not clear run and lost place approaching 3 out, headway before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace flat

Group Captain held up, raced keenly, mistake 4th, headway 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last

Laredo Sound with leader, mistake 3rd, led before next, hit 5th, headed 3 out, weakened after next

Razor Royale chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out

Lightning Strike made most to approaching 4th, remained handy until ridden and weakened 3 out

Kealshore Boy held up in touch, jumped right 2nd, lost place and mistake 4th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off

No doubting the class of the race, well up to its Grade 2 status, but the disappointment was the lack of a good end-to-end gallop (confirmed by the modest time) to suggest caution over the form standing the test of time.

ELUSIVE DREAM came to the race fresh after bypassing Cheltenham following his hard race behind Lough Derg in the National Spirit at Fontwell, and that might just have made the difference. He became the first seven-year-old to win a race that also tends to go to horses coming on from Cheltenham features. He has done well in his first season over hurdles without suggesting he has the scope to make the transition to the top staying hurdling ranks. Bookmakers were quoting him at around the 14-1 mark for next season's World Hurdle, even though he was firmly put in his place by Lough Derg on his previous start.

His supporters will point to the longer trip bringing further improvement from this stayer off the Flat, but he shows plenty of speed over hurdles. He still has an engagement in tomorrow's Aintree Hurdle, but connections were shying away from that last night with the possibility of a trip to Punchestown.

Both Franchoek and Whiteoak had hard races at the festival but bounced back admirably here in scrapping away to the line again. Whiteoak continues to progress in leaps and bounds, although she was well suited to a steady pace as she possesses plenty of pace despite her improved win in the new mares' only hurdle at Cheltenham. Connections are considering a trip to Punchestown, while next season will be geared around defending her festival win.

four-year-old winner of this in 13 years. Having travelled well in his midfield position, he had nowhere to go as the race took shape into the home bend with the winner striding on. He certainly lost two to three more lengths as a result before putting his head down and nearly pulling it out of the fire. He has been a tribute to his connections this season and has left behind his Flat form. While he does not possess the speed of similar improver Katchit, he looks to have stamina, even though this was not a true test, and he deserves another Grade 1 success.

The rest were left behind from the last but Franchoek's stablemate Group Captain ran better than the bare form. His rider reported he thought he was sure to finish in the first three before stamina became an issue. The first-time blinkers probably worked too well as he was keen enough early but moved up stylishly into the home turn before tiring.

There were no such excuses for the others with Razor Royale again finding disappointingly little after travelling well with the pace. He has not gone on from the good form he was showing at the turn of the year. The upside is that he is a chaser in the making, as his pointing form highlights, and he can take high order when put back over fences. [BJ]

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