Long Distance Hurdle 2013

2.25 Newbury

bet365 Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £22,780

Advice: 3 pts win At Fishers Cross (10/11 general)

Celestial Halo: Evergreen newly turned staying hurdler who was second and clear one at that in World Hurdle before landing Auteuil Grade 2 (no match for Gemix in French equivalent of World Hurdle); That form makes him a big player and must be respected.

Reve De Sivola: Fourth in World Hurdle; Another British charge not to get into the race behind Gemix but did provide a turnup when revelling in his heavy ground and then overturning that form to land Grand Prix D’Automne at Auteil, having been outpaced before flying home to mug Lord Presitge and Gemix; Will take some serious passing from out in front but the slower the ground the better for him.

At Fishers Cross: The rising star of the staying novice hurdle scene, having won his last 6 on the bounce, including defeat of Champion Hurdle contender the New One over 2m5f Grade 2 at Cheltenham and then when dominant in Albert Bartlett; Good ground a new frontier for him but even more impressive when bolting up in admittedly weak Sefton but couldn’t possibly have been more impressive and if there’s more to come than can take high rank against the stayers; Gets 4lbs from top 2.

Battle Group: Completed a remarkable double in the space of two days at Aintree festival earlier this year, and won Grade 3 handicap by 10 lengths over hurdles before taking apart field in 3m handicap chase just a couple of days later; Beat Jetson again at Haydock before no show in Paddy Power over fences but needs to find more yet again to get in the shakeup here.

Medinas: Proved that he stays this trip when second to Tidal Bay latest on return at Wetherby (form reads well in this context, was in receipt of 4lbs); Won Coral Cup off 148 last season so not without his place here; At Fishers Cross a different horse to the one that he gave nearly a stone to in December.

VERDICT: A good renewal and more open than the betting suggests. The concession of 4lbs that Reve De Sivola and Celestial Halo have to give to AT FISHERS CROSS adds a fascinating edge to what’s already going to be a very informative event with the staying scene in mind and Rebecca Curtis’s young second season hurdler can lay down a marker down for the season ahead.