Expert Analysis

Once again it paid to be prominent from the off over hurdles today. Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead jumped the first hurdle in second and third place behind the 80/1 outsider and pace setter Workahead.

LOSSIEMOUTH Despite being thought to be best over an intermediate trip, she simply had too much pace for her rivals from two out to the winning post and came home a most comprehensive winner. Maybe the first time cheekpieces she wore helped her travel through the race in a more relaxed manner. Either way she was able to dominate this field from coming down the hill until the line.

BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD Her profile strongly suggests she would have been helped by much softer ground. The faster conditions probably also reduced the claims of the third horse to finish, thus offering some balance to the post-race eulogies offered to the winning performance.

THE NEW LION It was clear that two miles on this faster ground presented far too much of a speed test for him. He appeared to be going as fast as he could for much of the race and particularly travelling down the hill after the second last hurdle. From that point onwards he never appeared likely to trouble the winning mare. The 2027 Stayers’ Hurdle has been mentioned as a possible target for next season and one can understand why.

ALEXEI I imagine his connections would have been delighted to see him remain competitive until the latter stages. Perhaps he benefitted from being the only one of the first four home to be advantaged by the faster conditions. He has also presented as an out and out two mile horse in contrast to the four horses he followed home. I suspect that without his serious mistake at the final hurdle he would have been vying for the runner up spot with Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion.

GOLDEN ACE Her best form has previously been earned when competing on this faster ground and so perhaps she has performed to a broadly similar level as she did when successful in the 2025 renewal of this championship race. She was well clear of the sixth horse to finish and also was only beaten around three lengths by the runner up. She was also closer to Lossiemouth jumping the final hurdle in 2026 compared with how far behind State Man she was at the same stage in 2025.

PONIROS His mistake at the third last hurdle merely accentuated his losing margins rather than made any difference to his finishing position.

ANZADAM He was never in the hunt after making a shocking blunder at the second hurdle.

TUTTI QUANTI After appearing to be a little reluctant to line-up he then was never able to get competitive.

WORKAHEAD He made the running until dropping away rapidly from after the third last hurdle.