This Prestige Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) saw The Cossack kick on best and score a narrow win that while game was fortuitous too. He was a maiden hurdler starting this season but after two placings won his next two hurdle outings then ran a close third before winning this sought after prize. The winners and where they came from on the home turn in race order were fifth (seven-off the inside and three lengths off the leaders), fifth (ten-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), led (seven-off the inside and a length and a half from the leader), third (eight-off the inside and length and a quarter from the leader), sixth (five-off then inside and two and a half lengths the leader), led (seven-off the inside and seven lengths ahead), third (four-off the inside and a head from the leader), fourth (seven-off the inside and a length from the leader), sixth (eight-off the inside and two and a half lengths from the leader) and fourth (seven-off the inside and length and a half from the leader). The Cossack raced second early then was fourth the inner a lap out before going up third 1000m out to the home turn. He challenged at the 200m and led over the last fence then held on to score by a neck in 5:11.09 and record his fifth win in thirty-five starts. It was his third race at Blacktype having on the flat as a 3yo finished fourth at G3 over 2000m and eleventh at G2 over 2100m. The now 7yo gelding has won two on the flat and three as a hurdler. Second home was Lake Superior that raced second outsider the leader and was fourth over the final fence but dug deep to finish a close second. This home was the luckless favourite Aigne that had been ridden cold back eleventh then improved wide across the top and moved up quickly to be fourth turning for home. The 8yo gelding hit the last fence and did well to stand up before recovering to finish third and was beaten only a neck and three-quarters of a length. Macklemore ran a close up fourth beaten just over a length and a half after setting the pace and refusing to lay down the run home. Delegate ran fifth beaten just over two lengths after racing fifth the inner while not far behind him was Gallante, which had raced tenth the inside and found the line okay. Tommyra was a battling seventh beaten just under three and a half a lengths after racing fifth mostly. Magnanimous Man had no finish after racing seventh mostly while Ave Maria passed a couple after racing last then second last across the top. The best trip home were separated by a length and a half with No Tip and Brawler both stopping after racing handy throughout. Master Courtsman settled down last and made a brief run deep before being last across the top and in a gap turning for home. He ended up beaten over twenty-four lengths. The winner The Cossack has thrived as a hurdler this season but was fortuitous to win this Prestige event as Aigne surely would have won but for knuckling badly after the last fence having failed to properly rise for it. It was a relatively strong field for depth this year. Several of these should be back for this event next year.