AINTREE 15:25

All 11 ran. Hurdles: 11. Race Distance Adjustment: +83 yds

Time: 4m 59s Closing Sectional: (3.15f): 45.5s (101.6%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 117%, Betfair SP 102.8%

A competitive renewal on paper, though quite a few had their stamina to prove and ultimately it probably didn't make up into the sum of its parts, with the favourite failing to get around, a few of the other more-fancied runners coming up short and a pair stepping up from handicaps filling the places, the winner essentially a class better after doing barely enough in front after cruising there, the first 3 all at the trip for the first time.

ABACADABRAS (FR) picked up his second Grade 1 of the season, stepped up 4f in trip, not required to improve but essentially better than the result, needing his mind made up after he'd got to the front really smoothly but rather earlier than ideal, likely to be competitive at the highest level for the foreseeable future, another try against Honeysuckle at Punchestown by no means a foregone conclusion; held up, travelled strongly, smooth headway after 3 out, hit next, going well when blundered last, led soon after, ridden out.

BUZZ (FR) proved better than ever, up in grade and trip, seeing things out thoroughly; held up, took keen hold, headway before 3 out, ridden after, kept on well run-in; he ran in the Betfair Hurdle last time, the form of which has proved predictably very solid, despite neither first nor second giving their running next time out.

MILLERS BANK in good form in handicaps, excelled himself, up in grade and trip, seeing the extra distance out well; in touch, travelled well, headway entering straight, shaken up after 3 out, kept on run-in; he's a really likeable type and there's no reason to doubt the improvement shown, despite his starting price.

BUVEUR D'AIR (FR) looked more his old self than he had at Haydock, despite being warm and a bit edgy beforehand, his earlier exertions costing him a place late on; handy, took keen hold, not fluent second, led eighth, hampered next, ridden after, headed soon after last, no extra final 100 yds; there would be limited options for him for the rest of the season.

BREWIN'UPASTORM (IRE) wasn't in the same form as the last time or the time before, perhaps just being back in a more competitive environment the issue; held up, not fluent fourth, shaken up 3 out, made no impression; he's likely to continue to need to be carefully placed.

SILVER STREAK (IRE) ran respectably, reverted to more patient tactics, faring much better than he had in this race in 2019, though he was probably stretched by the trip, likely to benefit from a return to around 2m; waited with, headway entering straight, shaken up before 2 out, no extra last.

NOT SO SLEEPY ran respectably, a mix of stamina being stretched and not being up to the task over a 4f longer trip; prominent, left in front seventh, headed next, weakened after 3 out.

MCFABULOUS (IRE) failed to meet expectations, his last 2 runs rather underwhelming after such a promising start to the campaign, though the Select Hurdle at Sandown might be just the race to give him a more positive end to the season; prominent, not fluent third, ridden before straight, weakened run-in.

BALLYANDY was well held, going with little zest; not always fluent, labouring sixth, always behind.

JASON THE MILITANT (IRE) upped in trip, departed too far out to say what would have happened; led until unseated rider seventh.

SONG FOR SOMEONE (GER) back up in trip, having been a late absentee from the Champion Hurdle, ran even worse than he had at Wincanton, sluggish at the start after being asked to jump off with the leaders and never looking comfortable at any stage, a real shame after such a fine season; dropped to near last jumping first, in mid-field after second, lost place again fifth, pulled up seventh.