Rodock posted a good figure in winning Haydock's Champion Hurdle Trial on January 19, who like the stable's Valiramix in easily winning the re-arranged Bula Hurdle at Newbury in December, had the benefit of ex-inmate The French Furze to provide a decent gallop on the heavy ground.

Rodock was done for toe in a slowly run Agfa Hurdle at Sandown on February 2. The winner Bilboa had done a 169 in very testing conditions at Aintree last season but her other runs indicate that she is a stone lower under normal conditions.

Landing Light did not have the advantage of a decent gallop in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Dec 26. In that race it looked caught for toe coming round the final turn but under a strong drive from Mick Fitzgerald, it picked up to win going away from Bilboa and Hors La Loi III.

With useful handicap hurdler, Achilles Wings setting a decent gallop, the Gd2 Axminster Carpets Hurdle (Feb 21) was run in a good time. Tony McCoy tried to stretch the field when taking over the lead four out on Copeland but Hors La Loi III was able to stay in close enough contact. In the straight, it always looked like overhauling the Pipe runner, which it did before the last. On the clock this was its best performance since winning as a novice at Cheltenham. It improved by a further 2lb in winning at Cheltenham

The Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham on Mar 14 was another non event as far as the clock was concerned. At least the best two horses in the race fought out the finish. Baracouda, who achieved a rating of 163 last season has only been obliged to do a maximum of 159 in being unbeaten this season. With Bannow Bay doing a 163 this year, with the benefit of Limestone Lad making the running, there was not likely to be much between them. As it was, there was a neck at the line. Baracouda had been ridden with extreme confidence off the pace, it made the ground up effortlessly and had to be restrained by T Doumen early in the straight as he did not wish to lead too early. Until it is beaten there is no telling how good the winner is. I would expect it to do 168 if required. Last season's leading Juvenile Jair Du Cochet had made the running, the ground was too lively for this one though. It was a shame that Limestone Lad was not able to make the race through injury.

Limestone Lad, having recovered from injury, bounced back to form with an easy success in the Gd 1 Kevin McManus Bookmakers Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown on April 25. The opposition was moderate and the winner ran about 15lb below its best, on ground that would have been lively for it.

Vic Toto, winner of of a Gd1 hurdle at Auteuil in June successfully returned from the Parisien winter break with a comfortable victory in a Gd3 there on Mar 3.

Ilnamar, getting a positive ride from Rodi Greene, put a field of decent handicappers in their place when winning the Coral Eurobet Cup (Mar 13) by eight lengths. In doing so, posting a rating 6lb better than useful stable companion Magnus has achieved so far. As it was obliged to give the winner 23lb it obviously had no chance. Strange then that the stewards should decide to take exception to the performance by banning horse and jockey, Barry Geraghty and fining trainer Martin Pipe. The fact that Magnus's presence in the race meant that many of the contestants were not in the handicap, would appear to have been their motivation. The Handicapper can not complain if he rates a horse too highly and then that rating is used against his work. Surely if the horse had been as good as his rating it would have been running in the Stayers Hurdle. Common sense prevailed when the bans and fine were overturned on appeal.

Ilnamar, showed that performance was no fluke by going on to capture the Gd1 Martell Aintree Hurdle on April 6 from Grimes 149, It Takes Time and Rooster Booster. Ridden with more restraint today, the winner responded well to Ruby Walsh's urgings to catch Grimes on the run-in. The fact that the course was watered for "good" ground did not help the runner-up's cause who would have been better off running for a $1 million on very fast ground in Japan. That said the winner is better than the rating and could well be a 160 horse. Bilboa threatened earlier in the straighting until losing her chance when stumbling badly on landing 3 out.

Rooster Booster bounced back to its very best when responding well to Richard Johnson's urgings to head The Gatherer 142 at the last and gamely hold on from that rival on the uphill finish in winning the County Hurdle at Cheltenham on Mar 14.

Kimbi came back to its best form of a few seasons ago when just winning a Gd2 Hurdle at Auteuil from Vic Toto and Tiger Groom 149 on April 21.