Marsh Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Long Walk Hurdle)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 20.44s

Agrapart²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: Nick Williams| OR: 145| C| D

7/2

Finished ninth in a bigger field version of this last year well behind Paisley Park. Loves the mud but generally comes up short at this level; posted a couple of fair efforts in France last month in graded races but highly likely to come up short aga

Form: 49P7-44

L'Ami Serge⁵⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 155| C

3/1

Has his quirks (surprising to see him run without a hood) but is a talented sort (finished second in this in 2017). Not seen from quite some time he is a triple Grade 1 winner; long time since a seasonal debutant won this but can't be written off tot

Form: 22381/7-

The Worlds End²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 153| D

15/8

Flirted with some top-class form over hurdles and did win at this level when taking a Grade 1 Aintree novice. Never quite lived up to expectations over fences; took the Grade 2 Wetherby hurdle on return but well beaten (7L) by Paisley park last time.

Form: 16P9-13

Papagana²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 146| D

9/4

Won three times last season and took another step forward when winning a Kempton Listed mares' event (her second win of that type) on her return. Clearly all about stamina this test will suit her (has won on heavy); deserves a go in this grade.

Form: 41431-1

Non-Runners

Paisley Park²²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Aidan Coleman

Tobefair³⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: Mrs D A Hamer J: Thomas Bellamy

Forecasts

Paisley Park (1/4), The Worlds End (15/8), Papagana (9/4), L'Ami Serge (3/1), Agrapart (7/2), Tobefair (12/1)

One of the stars of last season PAISLEY PARK never stopped improving lighting up the Cheltenham Festival with his performance in the Stayers’ Hurdle his path to glory having really started in this race last year although he won’t be an 8-1 chance this time. Take him out of the race and barring mishaps the race for the runner-up slot is competitive with the talented L’Ami Serge making his return to action after injury although this will be quite a test in the conditions after such a long break. The Worlds End was third behind the selection last time and looks unlikely to reverse that form and it may well be the tough mare Papagana who is the biggest danger in receipt of weight from all.