ASCOT 14:25 2z6219

All 10 ran. Hurdles: 12. Race Distance Adjustment: +21 yds

Time: 6m 0.01s Closing Sectional: (4.95f): 69.4s (104.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 118%, Betfair SP 99.6%

A double-figure field, the first since 2018, for one of the principal staying hurdles in the British pattern, though it was a purely domestic line-up, albeit featuring just about all the likely local contenders for top honours, that a mare having her first run in a graded event was sent off favourite some indication of the standard of the established stayers, most of them well into veteran status; the pace was just a fair one, the tempo beginning to lift after the eighth but the field still well grouped 3 out, the emphasis not particularly on stamina as a result.

CRAMBO under a change of rider, found the improvement required up in grade, clearly well served by stepping up to 3m this season and putting himself forward for serious consideration so far as the Stayers' Hurdle is concerned, going the right way and his age very much on his side against the majority of the other contenders; patiently ridden, took keen hold, headway early final circuit, shaken up entering straight, upsides run-in, edged ahead close home.

PAISLEY PARK (IRE) went agonisingly close to a fourth success in the race, still among the best in the division, despite rising 12; waited with, travelled well, headway after eighth, effort entering straight, disputed lead last, kept on well, just failed.

DASHEL DRASHER wasn't entitled to beat Paisley Park on revised from Newbury, this a performance of similar merit, likely to continue to make his presence felt at this level, given the strength (or lack of) of the division; led, headed briefly sixth, ridden straight, headed last, weakened final 100 yds.

CHAMP (IRE) lacked a recent outing (had had a breathing operation since last seen) and acquitted himself pretty well in a race that didn't really suit him, rising 12 but still likely to be a contender in the top races in the division again; held up, ridden after eighth, headway early in straight, stayed on run-in, never on .

BLUEKING D'OROUX (FR) upped markedly in trip, needed to improve again to make a mark in this company and ran about as well as could be expected, though possibly stretched by the trip and likely to be at least as effective back over shorter; prominent, led briefly sixth, every chance entering straight, not quicken after 2 out.

BOTOX HAS (FR) ran respectably, not good enough against the best in the division, though he might have finished a bit closer had he not flattened the second last; handy, effort when clouted 2 out, one paced.

GOWEL ROAD (IRE) faced a stiffish task and ran about as well as could be expected; prominent, took keen hold, hung left, slow first, lost place early final circuit, shaken up before 4 out, made little impression.

RED RISK (FR) needed to find a bit more to be competitive at this level and wasn't up to the task; held up, shaken up approaching 3 out, not quicken straight.

GOSHEN (FR) runner-up to Paisley Park when this was run at Kempton last season, is just going through the motions at the moment and essentially of little interest; held up, not settle fully, shaken up home turn, hung right, left behind soon after.

WEST BALBOA (IRE) well backed, proved a disappointment stepping up in class, the way the race was run perhaps not suiting her so well as a big-field handicap does; held up, not settle fully, shaken up after 3 out, weakened run-in.