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.