The 128th running of this Prestige Hurdle over 4200m drew a small and weak field with a maiden leaper starting clear favourite incredibly to show the absolute lack of depth in the line-up. Eight runners only started and three of them did not complete. Ready Eddie was third in this last year and today at the same weight in a far inferior field sat back before getting a run through closer in to reach second at the 800m before taking the lead soon after turning for home. He had the race in safekeeping but then was poor over the final two fences though held on to score by three-quarters of a length in 5:22.78. The 9yo gelding post race had a near front flexor tendon injury so it was a gutsy win to record his fifth success in thirty-seven starts. Prior to today he had not won a race since May of 2016 and gave his Scottish rider Hamish McNeil the biggest win of his career to date. He rode the runner up Go Go Gonzo to win the traditional lead up hurdle event on the first day of this meeting but showed a commitment matters by keeping his promise to pilot Ready Eddie today and was rewarded as such. Go Go Gonzo soon led and then was headed a lap out before taking the front again across the top but once headed early in the run home fought very hard to the line. Delacroix sat second last then improved fifth turning for home and was left third over the last fence due to a faller. He maintained a solid finish to the line. Kiddo, the maiden jumper with just a single hurdle and steeplechase outing on his leaping resume finished a distant fourth after sitting last and then improving the inside to fourth across the top. He was a battling fifth coming up to the final fence and left fourth due to a faller. Heistheone stopped badly after sitting second then third and was beaten a staggering seventy-four lengths. The Energizer raced fourth mostly and was sure to finish third until falling at the final fence. Yardstick and Revenge both dropped right out and were pulled up early the run home exhausted. This was as poor and weak a field that has quite likely ever lined up in this time-honoured event. The winner ran third in this last year beaten eighth over lengths in a far better line up and the seventh finisher last year beaten twenty two and a half lengths was third today beaten just over two lengths under 65.5kg.