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3:50 totesport.com Elite Hurdle (Class A) (A Limited Handicap) Grade 2 (4yo+)

[off 3:52] £28,510.00, £10,695.00, £5,355.00, £2,670.00, £1,340.00, £670.00 8 hdles 2m

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Royal Shakespeare (FR) S Gollings 6 11-1 G Lee 5/1 150 — —

2 1½ Intersky Falcon Jonjo O´Neill 8 11-10 b A P McCoy 6/1 159 — —

3 shd Darrias (GER) P F Nicholls 4 9-11 7t L Heard(7) 7/1 139 — —

4 3½ Sporazene (IRE) P F Nicholls 6 11-5 R Walsh 100/30J 154 — —

5 4 Perouse P F Nicholls 7 11-1 t P J Brennan 8/1 150 — —

6 14 Hawadeth V R A Dartnall 10 10-5 J Crowley 16/1 140 — —

7 shd Berengario (IRE) S C Burrough 5 10-4 33 J A McCarthy 125/1 139 — —

8 2 Freedom Now (IRE) R H Alner 7 10-4 32 R Walford 100/1 139 — —

9 hd Marcel (FR) M C Pipe 5 10-8 T J Murphy 100/30J 143 — —

9 ran TIME 3m 41.00s (slow by 4.00s) TOTAL SP 108%

1st OWNER: J B Webb BRED: London Thoroughbred Services & Mme A Rothschild TRAINER: S Gollings

2nd OWNER: Interskyracing.com & Mrs Jonjo O'Neill

3rd OWNER: Peter Hart

TOTE TRIFECTA w/u WIN £6.40 PL £2.00, £2.10, £1.90; Ex £38.30; CSF £31.59; TRICAST £183.97w/u

ANALYSIS: This attracted some high-class hurdlers, although many of them had not been in great form when last seen. That, allied with the fact that in a race run at a generous gallop Berengario - whose long handicap weight was 7st 13lb - was beaten only 23 lengths, does make one have doubts about the solidity of the form.
ROYAL SHAKESPEARE has never really fulfilled the potential he showed as a novice, but he put in some strong efforts last season, and gained a deserved victory in this Grade 2 prize. Never far off the gallop, he looked dangerous approaching two out and duly produced what he threatened, winning a tad decisively. Realistically, he is not going to win a Champion Hurdle and nor is he going to be particularly well handicapped after this, buthe should continue to run respectably and may even head to Cheltenham next weekend for the Greatwood Hurdle.
Intersky Falcon has his limitations, but last season's Champion Hurdle sixth was a grand effort and so was this second. He displayed all his characteristic enthusiasm and, with luck, should get to appear in more races than was the case last term.
The third, fourth and fifth all came from the Paul Nicholls stable, and Darrias, in particular, emerges with plenty of credit. He has been on the go for ages but his holiday keeps being delayed because he runs smashing races. Perhaps not surprisingly for a horse who most recently won over 21 furlongs at Cheltenham, he was doing his best work late at this speedier venue, and nothing was finishing faster. Still only a four-year-old, he was 7lb out of the handicap and ran a massive race, so much so that connections must be pondering whether to keep him going until there is some sign of a break being required. If his team decide to make the mostof his age allowance, he would be a danger to all but the very best in novice chases.
Sporazene, winner of the County Hurdle two seasons ago, effectively lost his novice chase campaign when sidelined early last winter. As such, it made sense for connections to bring him back over hurdles, and he did little wrong, plugging on up the straight after becoming slightly outpaced down the side of the track. He retains his ability and, if his jumping is up to scratch, he will be one to have on your side when returning to fences. One place back, Perouse, another who has been running over fences, made a valiant bid to repeat his 2004 win, and should also strip fitter for his exertions.
Hawadeth ran miserably, but the biggest disappointment was Marcel. Successful for the ninth time last season when landing the Tolworth Hurdle, he ended 2004-05 with three shocking displays, and this rather followed in the same vein. He has much to prove.