This stamina-sapping contest can go to Hersov over Irish raider Hume Castle, Mr Cospector and Kings Mistral, with Pharaway Citizen likely to go well off bottom weight. Hersov has yet to show his best form over fences but has plenty going for him here if we forget his lacklustre effort in the Agfa Diamond Chase at Sandown in February. Prior to that the son of Roselier out of a Strong Gale mare had run really well at Cheltenham in a race that has worked out well, and this out-and-out stayer will have conditions very much in his favour today. A look at his past form over hurdles reveals that Nicky Henderson's charge was only beaten a head by subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Rembrandt at Newbury in 2002, and with that in mind he is very well in. The Irish have won four of the last seven runnings of this race, including last year with the Jessica Harrington-trained Intelligent. The stable's representative this time is Hume Castle who has been laid out for the race, and lines up on the back of a win at Leopardstown gained despite the shorter trip and faster ground expected to be against him. He will make a bold bid to take the prize back across the Irish Sea. Mr Cospector is a gutsy little horse who was going to go for the Kim Muir, but connections have decided to wait for this instead. He is another that can go well, along with Kings Mistral, although he is something of a Sandown specialist. Nevertheless he should not be ruled out of calculations, while lightly weighted Pharaway Citizen is worth considering for a big-priced outsider. In contrast, Mini Sensation has a welter burden to carry thanks to last season's exploits, and will do well to get involved. All in all, Hersov has the class to repel the Irish hope Hume Castle and is the pick.
