PERTEMPS NETWORK HURDLE

CONNECTIONS of FIRST ASSIGNMENT were probably disappointed when their progressive, short-priced hurdler was beaten at Haydock in November, trying to follow up his nine-length Cheltenham defeat of Boyhood a week earlier. Time has told he lost nothing in defeat that day, though, as Paisley Park and Shades Of Midnight finished narrowly in front of him and the former is a short price for the Stayers’ Hurdle, while Shades Of Midnight lifted a Grade Two on his next start. First Assignment then followed the path of the last 30 winners by running in this calendar year at Warwick. Others to catch the eye include Leopardstown qualifier winner Cuneo, runner-up Walk To Freedom and third-home Thermistocles, while Notwhatiam has improved after switching to Dan Skelton and shaped well in the Warwick qualifier.