Declan Rix

Updated 10.00 - all selections online

SUPREMELY WEST is favourite for Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (4.40), but deservedly so on the back of his run that qualified him for this race back in October.

Despite being a drifter in the market, the son of Westerner ran a fine race to be third, beaten by both Ma Shantou and the reopposing Electric Mason. He faced an incredibly difficult task this day, especially where Ma Shantou is concerned, given he, the Emma Lavelle-trained horse, lines up in today’s Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle as a single digit betting chance.

Under the circumstances, it was a big run by the selection, trying to concede 8lb to a subsequent Grade 2 winner while the runner-up, Electric Mason, went on to win a big Haydock handicap next time out. Supremely West conceded 9lb to Chris Gordan’s charge this day, but is now 13lb better off for a 2½ lengths beating. In pure handicapping terms, he still looks a fair bet.

Once qualified for this race, it’s clear connections have campaigned the eight-year-old with a view to getting back here. Next time at Cheltenham, Supremely West received an incredibly strange ride in soft ground down the inside racing line, often the worst place to be in such conditions.

After that came two below par runs in Sandown and Aintree handicap which saw the Handicapper ease him 3lb. He hasn’t been seen since, in 76 days, but that isn’t a concern given his decent record fresh coming from a top-class operation.

The ground has come right for the improving IMPOSE TOI in today’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (3.20), as the more emphasis on speed the better for Nicky Henderson’s inmate.

The eight-year-old was a fine second in last year’s Coral Cup here at the Festival despite over-racing and putting himself into the race sooner than ideal. He wore cheekpieces this day and they seemed to light him up, no surprise given he is a horse that can race exuberantly anyway.

It was the lack of him taking a pull when beaten in the Cleeve Hurdle 47 days ago that leads one to believe that the Seven Barrows team left plenty to work on ahead of today’s bigger assignment. To be fair, the market also suggested this too, the son of It’s Gino a drifter in the betting before really tying up in the last 150y on soft ground.

Stamina is a small concern given the demanding late climb on The New Course, but the drying conditions will put far more emphasis on speed than what he faced in the Cleeve Hurdle, and that’s a huge plus.

A reproduction of Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle win back in December puts him with a shout here, although he probably needs to improve a little again. A 13.86 penultimate furlong sectional this day shows what pace he has, which he can hopefully utilise well on today’s ground.