Permission was given for Amrons Sage (IRE) to wear a red hood to the start.

No Risk With Lou (FR) was kicked down at the start.

Having been examined by the Veterinary Surgeon, the gelding was deemed fit to race.

An enquiry was held into the running and riding of Scarpered [(IRE), ridden by Nathan Brennan and trained by Nicky Henderson, which settled worse than midfield and appeared to be tenderly handled from exiting the back straight until rounding the home turn, whereupon it was asked for its finishing effort and stayed on to finish fifth beaten 31½ lengths.

The rider was accompanied by a senior rider and interviewed and shown recordings of the race and the Veterinary Officer reported that a post-race examination of the gelding failed to reveal any abnormalities.

Brennan stated his instructions were to be positive, but allow the gelding to find a rhythm and get his confidence whilst trying to achieve his best possible placing on this his first hurdle run.

He explained that he was outpaced from the off due to the decent early pace so was further back than he had intended and lost further ground as the field accelerated down the back straight.

He added that he was squeezing Scarpered (IRE) along and giving the gelding slaps down the neck in order to improve his position, and despite jumping well throughout had been unable to make up any ground until entering the home straight, from which point he was only passing tired horses which had tried to lay up with the pace and also came to end of its run jumping the last hurdle.

Brennan confirmed he had reported back to the Trainer that Scarpered (IRE) had jumped well but felt the gelding would appreciate better ground and a longer trip than today’s 2 miles.

The Stewards noted his explanation.