NO one will claim the re-routed Betfair Hurdle bore much resemblance to the infamous Schweppes Hurdle of many years ago. For a start there were only 14 runners – most unusual in a Saturday handicap hurdle worth over £47,000 to the winner – and very few outsiders looked capable of upsetting Nigel Twiston-Davies’ easy Cheltenham winner Al Dancer, who closed in to 5/2 favourite.

Those with 12/1 each-way vouchers were sitting pretty, those relying on SP about a horse raised 12lbs may have been more nervous. In fact it mattered little as Al Dancer and Sam Twiston-Davies moved through to head long-time leader Magic Dancer in the straight and pulled clear to beat him by nearly four lengths, with Blu Cavalier and market rival Getaway Trump next.

“We have to go for the Supreme Novices’ rather than the Ballymore,” Twiston-Davies senior said. “We’ve got him quite calm now but he was a bit fresh early in. Look at the scope of him. He’s such a good jumper and you’d imagine he’d find fences easier.”

There is no doubt Al Dancer looked different class, though the proximity of the gallant second (17lbs better in with him after showing up well to the last at Cheltenham) suggests this was not a great handicap. Having said that, the 6/1 for the festival opener was soon snapped up with 5/1 the best offer later on.