FAIRYHOUSE 16:20

All 8 ran. Hurdles: 12.

Time: 5m 12.4s Closing Sectional: (4.25f): 64s (103.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 119%, Betfair SP 100.1%

An open house Grade 2, the runners arriving in roundabout ways, most with a point to prove for one reason or another, and it was barely up to standard, even with the first 2 producing lifetime bests, Value At Risk enterprisingly ridden in a race which tested finishing speed as much as stamina, which was against the favourite Dedigout.

VALUE AT RISK has taken longer than first promised to climb this high over hurdles, partly because plan 'A' this season was chasing, shelved after successive falls, but he's gradually been brought to a peak again since and reaped the reward of bypassing Cheltenham, primed for this job and getting the ride to match; prominent from the off, and before the sixth the rider had grabbed the initiative, shaped things to fit him, split the field when pressed on from 3 out, found plenty and looked to be fending off the second when that one fluffed the last; he's not a prospective World Hurdle horse, his remaining potential for fences, sure to be given another shot at it next season.

MARCHESE MARCONI (IRE) didn't shine on his chasing debut, absent 6 months before it, but he ran the race of his life straight back to hurdling here, rising to the best race he's been in; raced in touch, and his Flat speed was further in evidence as he was the only one able to cover the winner's wind-up from 3 out, putting in a challenge but coming off second best - if barely a length down - when making a mess of the last.

DEDIGOUT (IRE) is finding the season ending too soon, after his delayed start to it, and despite checking in only third best he gave the impression he's as good as ever, the race less of a test than when he won it last year (heavy ground), lacking the speed of the first 2 at the crucial stage, after 3 out, but closing in again at the end, only then his stamina kicking in.

SORT IT OUT (IRE) has been beset by setbacks this campaign, in contrast to the previous one, restricted to just 2 races, but this effort (after another absence) was all positive with an eye to even bigger and better things next season, all being well; patiently ridden, travelling well, but what was most impressive was the rush he made 3 out as the whole pace was quickening, making a lot of ground in little time, excusably unable to quite sustain it given the interrupted season he's had.

PLINTH (IRE) had another stiff task, following a 2-month break, never involved but not given a hard time, either.

GWENCILY BERBAS (FR) had started the season with a bang, the form franked by others, but that was back in November and it's possible he needed this more than perhaps anticipated, certainly shaping that way, matching the winner up front and still looking to be going well enough 3 out, only to curl up, something maybe not right.

TAGLIETELLE gave his all in the Pertemps Final and clearly wasn't over that, only 11 days on, labouring some way out, most unlike him, easy to just put a line through the run.

SHEAMUS (IRE) ran much as he had on his reappearance, whatever injury he had seemingly reducing his powers; led early, reined back to mid-field by fourth, never got back in it, losing touch after 3 out and eased right off.