Agrapart

Agrapart only finished fourth in the end in the 2m 4f hurdle, but he put up an admirable effort on ground that should have been faster than ideal and over a trip that should have been shorter than ideal.

Nick Williams’ horse was sent to the front from flagfall by Lizzie Kelly, but Wholestone and Vision Des Flos closed up on him as they raced towards the end of the back straight, and a mistake at the final flight on that section of the track saw him cede the lead. Another mistake at the cross flight appeared to end any chance that he had of remaining in contention, but he stayed on strongly from the third last flight. He was only beaten 1l by Unowhatimeanharry for third, and he was only beaten a total of 8l by the winner Wholestone.

This was Agrapart’s first run in 266 days, he will do better when he steps back up in trip, and he should do better when he gets back on easy ground. The Relkeel Hurdle and the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham, and maybe even the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, all look like legitimate targets for him at this stage. He is often an under-rated horse, he was a 9/1 shot when he won the Cleeve Hurdle last year, and it may be that he will be under-rated again on the back of a fourth-place finish here.

Aintree, 10^th November 2018