RACE REPORT

Royal Shakespeare: 5 b g Kings Theatre - Persian Walk
Premier Stores Novices Hurdle, Aintree, Grade 2, 2m½f, £29,000, good

1st

 Royal Shakespeare

25/1

11.3

2nd

 Contraband

 14/1

11.3

3rd

 Fleet Street

 4/1

11.0

Distances: Neck, 4

Time: 3m 58.30s

Ran: 12

Trainer: S Gollings

Jockey: R Thornton

Owner: J B Webb

 A race which often provides handsome compensation for horses that had run well in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, did not quite pan out like that this time, with Royal Shakespeare who had been thrown in at the deep end, coming up trumps in a thrilling finish with long time leader Contraband.
The furious pace suited the winner, who is inclined to run freely in muddling affairs. Settling in, he picked up nicely from three out and threw down his challenge at the last. Willing under pressure, he saw out this race in terrific style to keep a clean sheet over hurdles, following two low profile wins. An experienced Flat racer in Britain and the UAE the winner is open to further improvement, though for the moment, he will have a holiday before being prepared for chasing next season.

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