HUNTINGDON 15:00

All 7 ran. Hurdles: 8. Race Distance Adjustment: +75 yds

Time: 3m 57s Closing Sectional: (4.1f): 55.6s (108.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 113%, Betfair SP 101.6%

All bar one had won over hurdles but 3 got racing further out than ideal into a brisk wind, setting it up for a potentially useful juvenile whose form edge was such that he probably would have taken care of them even without the helping hand.

PERSEUS WAY (IRE) might have been sharpened up by first-time cheekpieces for all this was mainly a case of making the most of a good opportunity, further aided by 3 of the others pressing each other from early on the final circuit; in touch, outpaced briefly home turn, rallied to lead before 2 out, asserted flat; he's more Fred Winter than Triumph in terms of Cheltenham and promises to benefit from a demanding test at the trip, not that the former race conformed to that norm in the last renewal won by Brazil.

SAMUEL SPADE (GER) is already better in this sphere than on the Flat, though a contested pace ahead probably helped show him to advantage in stepping up on even his winning hurdling debut form; held up, took closer order home turn, effort 2 out, threatened briefly, left behind by winner final 100 yds.

DESPEREAUX (FR) is improving all the time, more so than this bare result might suggest up in class back from 8 weeks off; pressed leader, went with zest and still going well when edged ahead briefly entering straight, sticking at it when all wrong at the last, losing momentum as he swerved to the right on landing, still doing best of those ridden close up; still unexposed, he remains sure to win more races.

CASI CRUDO ran about as well as could have been expected upped in grade, especially after getting competitive further out than was probably ideal; in touch, went prominent quickly early final circuit, upsides fourth, went on before next, headed entering straight, dropped away.

POLYPHONIC (IRE) failed to repeat his Fontwell effort, let alone better it; held up, not settle fully, mistake second, shaken up before 3 out, made little impression.

CHAOS CONTROL (IRE) the only hurdles maiden in the field, couldn't even match his Kempton form, which was endorsed elsewhere in this by the winner that day Samuel Spade, probably still in need of experience; waited with, shuffled back 3 out, forced wide home turn, no threat after.

START IN FRONT (FR) was easy to back late on and proved a let-down above and beyond probably doing too much too soon; led until joined fourth, remained prominent until 3 out, faltered quickly; his Wetherby win had come on heavy ground.