'He's clearly got loads of ability' - which performances got our panel talking?

On a day of astonishing performances, we asked three of our experts to pick the horse they will be taking out of the afternoon with the rest of the season in mind.

'Every right to be aimed for the Champion Hurdle'

The eyes were drawn to Edwardstone and Jonbon, but Love Envoi's performance in the 2m handicap hurdle was a brilliant return to action.

Defying a weight of 11st 10lb against the boys, last season's mares' novice hurdle winner kept on strongly to the line and with more improvement almost certain, it leaves Harry Fry with a positive dilemma of where to go for the rest of the season.

She is no doubt Britain's leading Mares' Hurdle contender in my mind, but she has every right to be aimed for the Champion Hurdle if connections fancy being bold.
Matt Rennie, reporter

'We may have witnessed a changing of the guard'

Much was made of Alan King's decision to pull Edwardstone out at Cheltenham and Ascot last month but the Arkle winner was well worth the wait stepping up to the big league in the Tingle Creek.

The eight-year-old cruised into contention and put the race to bed with a sequence of slick jumps under Tom Cannon, beating last year's match-fit winner Greaneteen and 6-5 favourite Shishkin.

We may have witnessed a changing of the guard in the British two-mile chase division and it will be fascinating to see how Edwardstone gets on against the best Ireland has to offer, namely Energumene.
Jonathan Harding, reporter

'He looks an ideal type for next month's Tolworth'

Edwardstone was the star of the day in the Tingle Creek. He was brilliant, but perhaps the most eyecatching performance came from Authorised Speed in Sandown's opening novice hurdle. He made a complete horlicks of the last flight, but I was very impressed otherwise as he won in a time over a second faster than Love Envoi later on the card.

This was a race won by Constitution Hill 12 months ago; Authorised Speed's not in that sort of league, but he's clearly got loads of ability, loves soft ground and looks an ideal type for next month's Tolworth. And he'll be more than useful when he eventually steps up in trip.
James Hill, tipster

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