Poquelin made all, allowed easy and clear lead to 3 out, shaken up when pressed 2 out, in command when drifted right flat

Alph held up, pushed along in 7th after 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, took 2nd near finish, no threat to winner

Desert Quest held up in touch in rear, smooth progress from 2 out to track winner last, ridden and found nil, lost 2nd near finish

Caracciola held up in touch, effort to dispute 2nd 2 out, not quicken before last, well beaten when hung right flat

Pigeon Island soon tracked leading pair, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden and not quicken after 2 out, soon outpaced

Penzance tracked winner, ridden and lost place before 2 out, steadily weakened

Hide The Evidence held up in touch, ridden before 2 out, weakened soon after

Monzon always last, losing touch when mistake 5th, tailed off

A race spawned by the foot and mouth outbreak as a Champion Hurdle consolation, but it has never fulfilled that position even though Rooster Booster won the 2005 running. There is too much Grade 1 action around for this £25,000 contest to attract the best and the last few runnings have involved the types who have been knocking their heads against Graded brick walls. The time fell close to most of the recent runnings on going variously described as good or good to firm, and a hot, sunny day was clearly drying out the hurdle track.

A year ago Penzance took advantage of an uncontested lead when dead-heating with Arcalis and this time POQUELIN was gifted six lengths and made the most of it. He was given a fine tactical ride, rousted along from the second-last after the pack had closed around the home bend, and he was never going to get caught. He enjoys faster conditions but his future lies over fences. He is another top juvenile hurdler who has struggled in his second season, but he has looked a chaser in the making, so he must enter Grade 1 calculations in the novice department next season.

Alph continues to run to a high level in the veteran stage of a limited career. With his size, it is amazing he never took to fences, but he deserves credit for this effort, as he sat at the back off the steady pace and did not look entirely happy on the drying ground. He stayed on strongly from the last to pass rivals for second without threatening the winner.

Caracciola is another into the veteran stage who has been struggling in the most competitive handicaps. He has started to tumble in the weights and showed he still enjoys these conditions.

Pigeon Island looked to find the long season and drying ground against him. He was not given a hard time from the last when held and was rallying for fourth at the line.

Penzance could not repeat last year's effort, coming here again on the back of a Scottish Champion Hurdle run with the reapplied blinkersnot doing the trick.

Hide The Evidence looks a keen sort and was disappointing in not landing a blow on this second run since his transfer from Ireland. [BJ]

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