HAYDOCK PARK 14:15

Non Runners: WAR SOUND. Hurdles: 9. Race Distance Adjustment: +48 yds

Time: 3m 38.7s Closing Sectional: (3.7f): 51.3s (99.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 126%, Betfair SP 99.6%

A valuable prize that's always one of the early-season highlights and, as usual, it attracted a good field that included several lightly-raced and progressive sorts, the first 3 all fitting that bill, and there's every reason to be positive about the form; although the pace was sound enough it often pays not to be too far back around here, especially on firmish ground, and Ch'tibello shaped notably well as he tried to pass the entire field from the home turn.

GWAFA (IRE) is improving all the time, easy to put a line through Aintree (hampered and unseated early), and he's won all 3 completed starts since hurdling debut, this time doing it in a much more competitive scenario; tracked pace, led 2 out, joined last, found extra and showed a good attitude; it'll only get tougher as he goes up the weights and/or into a higher grade but he's likeable and open to further improvement.

ALL SET TO GO (IRE) had optimum conditions, an emphasis on speed ideal for him, and he improved again, proving that he can cut it in a competitive environment; mid-division, travelled smoothly, headway 3 out, upsides last, one paced; it's worth keeping him on the go for the more valuable summer prizes and he should remain competitive.

CH'TIBELLO (FR) remains favourably handicapped, more so than this effort suggests on the face of it, catching the eye as he did well under the circumstances; dropped out, travelled well, still plenty to do 3 out, headway when hampered 2 out, stayed on, left poorly placed; remains capable of better and is one to follow, very much of interest for the major handicap hurdles this summer.

JOHN CONSTABLE (IRE) again ran creditably but had no excuses and the handicapper seems to have his measure; chased leaders, every chance 3 out, one paced from last.

ALL YOURS (FR) ran up to his best, sharper for Cheltenham 7 weeks ago, but he had every chance and that just goes to show that the handicapper seems in control; chased leaders, effort 2 out, held soon after last, no extra.

APTERIX (FR) ran respectably in this competitive affair and remains in good form, but he's possibly missed his chance of further success to some extent, now 14 lb higher than his last win after a couple of placed efforts; mid-division, headway 4 out, one paced from 2 out.

SWANSEA MILE (IRE) looks too high in the weights, certainly for races as competitive as this; waited with, not settle fully, headway 4 out, weakened between last 2.

WAIT FOR ME (FR) shaped better than the distance beaten suggests, just unable to see things out having failed to settle; prominent, raced too freely, led soon after 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened.

MANHATTAN SWING (IRE) looked a bit rusty after 6 months off; raced off the pace, some headway 3 out but never a threat.

ROMAN FLIGHT (IRE) should strip fitter for the run having been off 10 months; dropped out, ridden 3 out, never dangerous but not unduly punished.

REGULATION (IRE) possibly needed the run after 5 months off; dropped out, hampered 4 out, made no impression but not unduly punished.

BELTOR was easy to back after 5 months off and shaped better than the bare result; mid-division, not always fluent and took strong hold, shaken up 3 out, weakened but not given at all a hard time; he caught the attention of the stewards who later fined Gavin Sheehan after finding him guilty of breaking Rule (D)48 in failing to report that the horse gurgled during the race.

NUTS WELL had gone up the weights for winning a couple of weak races and was well held in this altogether more competitive affair; chased leaders, lost place when mistake 3 out, no extra.

SOME PLAN (IRE) disappointed, but he's surely better when ridden patiently given his style; pressed leader, led third, headed soon after 3 out, folded.

ASTRE DE LA COUR (FR) shaped as if better for the run after 6 months off; led until third, remained prominent, weakened after 3 out.

CHELTENIAN (FR) was fatally injured; mid-division, lost place when hit fifth, went wrong soon after next.