Good To Soft

1:40 Stan James Christmas Hurdle (Class A) Grade 1 (4yo+)

[off 1:41] £57,020.00, £21,390.00, £10,710.00, £5,340.00, £2,680.00, £1,340.00 8 hdles (2m110y) 2m½f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Feathard Lady (IRE) C A Murphy 5 11-0 R Walsh 6/4F — —

2 12 Self Defense Miss E C Lavelle 8 11-7 M A Fitzgerald 13/2 149 — —

3 3 Royal Shakespeare (FR) S Gollings 6 11-7 T Scudamore 12/1 152 — —

4 7 Natal (FR) P F Nicholls 4 11-7 t B J Geraghty 8/1 142 — —

5 13 Akilak (IRE) J Howard Johnson 4 11-7 A Dobbin 13/2 137 — —

6 2 Cloudy Grey (IRE) Miss E C Lavelle 8 11-7 B Fenton 20/1 135 — —

7 1¼ Intersky Falcon Jonjo O´Neill 8 11-7 tb A P McCoy 7/2 158 — —

7 ran TIME 3m 55.30s (slow by 8.30s) TOTAL SP 112%

NON RUNNER: Hawkit (USA)

1st OWNER: Lord of the Ring Syndicate BRED: J C Condon TRAINER: C A Murphy

2nd OWNER: Fraser Miller Racing

3rd OWNER: J B Webb

TOTE WIN £2.20 PL £2.00, £3.10; Ex £13.70; CSF £11.50

ANALYSIS: The absence of last year's winner Harchibald and the late Rooster Booster left this short of its traditional top-line performers, but there was a strong pace and plenty of solid yardsticks to measure an impressive winner in FEATHARD LADY against. It was no surprise the standout 10-1 from VCbet and totesport did not last to nightfall, with both cutting her to 7-1, leaving Hills at 8-1 the best price.

There is unlikely to be as impressive a winner of a Champion Hurdle trial before next March than Feathard Lady, who easily took the latest step up the ladder to the top in her stride to maintain her unbeaten record. She won with something to spare, just shaken up after the last, and was value for more than the bare margin.

There was no fluke about this runaway defeat of good yardsticks and, while connections of some of those would point to the ground not helping their horses run to top form, she fully deserves rating into the 160s and will be getting a vital 5lb sex allowance next March. That still leaves her another stride to make to Champion Hurdle winner, but this performance points to her making it as she continues to look progressive and, like a class act, she seems to handle all types of ground. Her credentials will be put to more of a test when accompanying stablemate Brave Inca to the Irish Champion Hurdle next month.

Self Defense, a Listed hurdle winner here in February, stayed on past tired rivals, acting on this tacky and dead ground better than both Royal Shakespeare and Intersky Falcon, who have finished in front of him previously. He usually travels well through his races, but was noticeably needing urgings down the back straight before winging past rivals over the last two flights. He remains devilishly hard to place to win, but connections continue to earn good prize-money.

Royal Shakespeare did not have his ground, but showed himself in good heart in battling away after going with the pace until tiredness took over after he paddled through the second-last. He can be seen in better light back on a sound surface.

Natal and Akilak, youngest in the field at four, were found wanting as official ratings suggested they might be. Natal has the more physical scope and it was no surprise he was pushed along to keep up towards the end of the back straight, never quite able to go the pace from that point but he kept galloping.

Triumph Hurdle third Akilak was at the back and also could not go the pace at the end of the back straight. He probably needs softer ground, but this was still a shade disappointing on his Grade 1 juvenile form, although both Penzance and Faasel have been similarly found out at the top level this season.

Intersky Falcon set a strong pace and paid for it on this unsuitable ground going to the second-last, where he was still right in the argument before virtually stopping to a walk going to the last, having blundered two out.