ASCOT 15:20

All 14 ran. Hurdles: 8. Race Distance Adjustment: +24 yds

Time: 3m 45.3s Closing Sectional: (4.95f): 68.4s (103.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 122%, Betfair SP 101.2%

The commendable rescheduling of this year's Betfair Hurdle might have brought with it a dip in numerical depth but it lost nothing at all in its strength and quality, further cementing its status as the best handicap hurdle of the season - the spring Festivals included - as it again went the way of a progressive type en route to a graded race at Cheltenham rather than a handicap there, a remarkable eighth such example from the last 10 runnings, with Agrapart and Violet Dancer the only exceptions during the decade, even the former seen next in Aintree's Grade 1 2m novice instead; the pace was fair but it didn't pay to be too far back, another exciting novice, Getaway Trump, doing best of the patiently-ridden contingent.

AL DANCER (FR) looks ready for an even higher grade, indeed putting himself to the top of the shortlist for the Supreme after this in what has felt like a down year for the novice hurdlers, doing all and more of what was expected of him as he became the yard's third novice to land this prize in recent years, sent off a strong favourite and looking a cut above even from 12 lb higher than at Cheltenham; he didn't settle fully tracking the pace, but he saved every yard up the inner and was still going strongly as he challenged soon after 2 out, produced to lead at the last and quickening clear without anything like full pressure, looking all over a 2-miler, one with the tools to thrive in a well-run Supreme - among past Betfair Hurdle winners who've attempted the double, he's more in the mould of a My Tent Or Yours than a Ballyandy, classy rather workmanlike.

MAGIC DANCER ran at least as well as at Kempton in this higher grade from the same mark, front-running tactics again seeing him fend off all bar a progressive type, bolstering his fine record in good-quality, big-field handicaps; led, quickened entering straight, headed last, no match for winner.

BLU CAVALIER coped surprisingly well with the step back up in grade on his first outing since leaving Paul Nicholls after 6 weeks off, a major career-best effort that won't necessarily prove flattering for all he was never far away in a race that appeared to suit such tactics; pressed leader, pushed along home turn, not quicken last, rallied well run-in, went third again final 100 yds.

GETAWAY TRUMP (IRE) couldn't emerge first from the novice contingent but has a future just as bright as Al Dancer's, with longer-term potential in spades, shaping well pitched into his first handicap after 7 weeks off in a race that wasn't run to suit; settled in rear, crept closer out wide after 3 out but still plenty to do (caught further back than ideal) entering straight and also forced wide, effort last, ran on; one to keep on the right side, whether kept to handicaps or reverted to a graded novice.

AR MEST (FR) up in grade, seemed beaten on merit in his hat-trick attempt, another 5 lb higher and with no good-value claimer taking off 10 lb; settled in touch, every chance 2 out, one paced.

EQUUS AMADEUS (IRE) wasted no time getting back to form; waited with, pushed along after 3 out, kept on from next.

MONT DES AVALOIRS (FR) made it back-to-back below-par Ascot efforts, tactics - back to far more patient ones - only partial excuse this time; dropped out and not ideally placed, shaken up from 3 out (normally goes on bridle longer), made little impression.

LISP (IRE) wasn't seen to best effect as he found his sound start to the season halted back from 8 weeks off; soon steadied, still plenty to do after 3 out, shaken up entering straight, made little impression.

DIDTHEYLEAVEUOUTTO (IRE) isn't progressing as expected at present, though this was an altogether different test outside small-field novices after a break (7 weeks), too soon to be writing off such a good bumper horse so early in his hurdling career; patiently ridden, some headway after 3 out, shaken up home turn, effort flattened out.

WILLIAM H BONNEY was found out in better company after 9 weeks off, his winning revival ended at 2; mid-division, shaken up briefly end of back straight, ridden again straight, faded.

NORDIC COMBINED (IRE) has been handed a stiff-looking mark and, tried visored, a series of errors compounded matters; tracked pace, jumped sketchily, pushed along after 3 out, left behind entering straight.

DISTINGO (IRE) fit from the Flat, shaped better than the distance beaten suggests; mid-field, lost ground around halfway, effort when forced wide home turn, effort flattened out.

ZANZA (IRE) wasn't seen to best effect after 6 weeks off; patiently ridden, short of room entering back straight, still plenty to do home turn, made no impression.

NELSON'S TOUCH ran even worse; tracked pace out wide, lost ground fourth, tailed off soon after 3 out; questions to answer now.