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2:35 Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle (Class A) (Registered As The Spa Novices' Hurdle) Grade 2 (4yo+)

[off 2:40] £43,500.00, £16,500.00, £8,250.00, £3,750.00, £1,875.00, £1,125.00 12 hdles 3m

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Moulin Riche (FR) F Doumen 5 11-7 R Thornton 9/1 — 144

2 2½ Over The Creek M C Pipe 6 11-7 T J Murphy 5/1 140 — 142

3 nk Brewster (IRE) Ian Williams 8 11-7 R Johnson 9/4F 148 — 142

5 14 Thames (IRE) N J Henderson 7 11-7 M A Fitzgerald 13/2 125 — 125

6 1¾ Stage By Stage (USA) C R Egerton 6 11-7 J A McCarthy 66/1 125 — 123

7 1¼ Without A Doubt M Pitman 6 11-7 S Durack 66/1 122 — 122

8 ½ Jackson (FR) A King 8 11-7 W Hutchinson 66/1 125 — 121

9 16 Romany Prince S Gollings 6 11-7 P Carberry 33/1 — 105

10 17 Kingsbay H Morrison 6 11-0 J Crowley 100/1 100 — 81

11 5 Keltic Rock J A Geake 6 11-7 M Bradburne 100/1 110 — 83

12 1¾ Senor Sedona N J Gifford 6 11-7 James Davies 33/1 122 — 81

13 1¼ Lady Zephyr (IRE) N A Twiston-Davies 7 11-0 C Llewellyn 14/1 126 — 73

14 6 Washington Lad (IRE) P A Fahy 5 11-7 A P McCoy 12/1 — 74

15 1 Dalvento (IRE) John Joseph Murphy 7 11-7 Andrew J McNamara 100/1 — 73

16 29 Va Vavoom (IRE) N A Twiston-Davies 7 11-7 t T Scudamore 66/1 121 — 44

17 shd Gaelic Music (IRE) M Bradstock 6 11-7 M Batchelor 100/1 — 44

F Bewleys Berry (IRE) J Howard Johnson 7 11-7 G Lee 11/2 135 — —

18 ran TIME 5m 55.80s (slow by 12.80s) TOTAL SP 121%

NON RUNNERS: Get My Drift (IRE) ,Laska De Thaix (FR)

1st OWNER: J C Seroul BRED: Herve D'Armaille TRAINER: F Doumen

2nd OWNER: D A Johnson

3rd OWNER: Mr & Mrs John Poynton

TOTE TRIFECTA Pool £7,312.12, 62.30 w/u WIN £11.80 PL £3.00, £2.50, £1.80; Ex £62.80; CSF £50.84; TRICAST £138.14Pool £7,312.12, 62.30 w/u

ANALYSIS: Some might have doubted whether this new contest deserved its place at the Festival, but it worked extremely well, attracting a competitive field without detracting from the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle to any great degree.

In a race run at a more than respectable gallop, the first four pulled clear and seem sure to make their mark in the future, while the inaugural running seems certain to unearth some grand chasing prospects.

MOULIN RICHE emphasised the value of having a three-mile novice hurdle at the meeting, as he had finished 15 lengths behind Brewster when the pair met over half-a-mile less here in January but on this occasion came into his own over the extra distance to reverse the form and gain a handsome victory.

Paying a compliment to Mephisto, by whom he was beaten three lengths when giving 7lb at Haydock last month, the French challenger stalked his opponents travelling smoothly throughout and, after taking over on the run to the last, was kept in front under only hands and heels riding.

Already a winner over fences at Auteuil, he could now begin chasing in Britain, but he will be unable to run in novice chases and so would have to go straight against the big boys. That said, any horse who can jump around Auteuil can jump, so that need not be a huge disadvantage. Even so, post-race talk of the King George and Gold Cup is grossly premature.

Over The Creek is every inch the embryonic chaser so his exhibition here augurs extremely well for the future. Already rated 145 after an easy win against experienced handicappers at Newbury, he was caught out by his lack of toe running down the hill, coming under a strong drive just as the race was developing.

Nevertheless, he kept going admirably, for a second looking as though hemight reel in the winner on the flat, but never really getting close enough to mount a proper challenge. Beautifully built, he is a super prospect for fences next term.

Brewster came into the heat holding excellent claims, with two course victories - including one over this distance - and the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle to his name. Common wisdom said that three miles suits the horse more than shorter and common wisdom was right, for although Brewster was beaten, he did nothing wrong, especially as theground was quicker than he would have liked. His season has been one of realisation surpassing expectation, as after winning here at the Open meeting, the plan was to take him straight over fences with the National Hunt Chase his aim. If he does move to fences next season, connections will surely be able to aim high and plan for the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase.

Thames had shown all his best form with plenty of cut in the ground, so it wasn't the greatest surprise that he found things happening too quickly on this livelier ground. Allied to that, some poor jumping did not help his cause, which actually makes his fifth-place finish respectable, even if he was miles behind Bob Bob Bobbin.

Stage By Stage did really well in the summer and, on this his first start since November, he did really well again, overcoming a mistake three out to post a fine effort.

Keltic Rock also surpassed himself, while Without A Doubt and Jackson stayed on steadily from the rear, the pair creeping into near contention only to flatten out inside the final half-mile. Both were eventually outclassed.

Romany Prince has not proved as smart over hurdles as his Flat form suggested he might be, and he disappointed, as did Lady Zephyr, who is way better than she showed here. Also among those to finish in the rear, Senor Sedona weakened alarmingly quickly, as did Washington Lad, who surprisingly seemed to find the distance beyond him, for he moved menacingly for some way on the second circuit only to fold. The horse was subsequently found to have mucus in his lungs.