The winner of this Premier Hurdle (3200m) was The Cossack comfortably to record his fourth hurdle success and sixth win overall. The 7yo raced third in the trail then lost his place when angled one-off and was second last across the top before getting between runners and turning for home was fifth. He reached second at the 200m and then led at the 100m going on to score by over two and a quarter lengths in 3:45.37. The winners and where they came from on the home turn were second (four-off the fence and a length from the leader), fourth (five-off the fence and length and a half from the leader), tenth (eight-off the fence and six lengths from the leader), led (three-off the fence and a length in front), led (four-off the fence and a neck in front), second (ten-off the inside and length and a half from the leader), led (four-off the inside and a head in front), sixth (four-off the inside and a length from the leader) and led (eight-off the inside and half a length in front). The Cossack last October had won the Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) at Ellerslie with 65kg and handled the extra 1.5kg today no worries whatsoever. Second home was the second favourite Bak Da Master that had led up and then botched the last fence when he hit it hard and was overtaken as a result. Third home was Locharburn that started favourite and he was back early but raced up second the outer and was always keeping the leader company challenging at times before being third at the 200m. He fought on well was just over three and a half length from the winner at the line. Fourth home and almost eight lengths from the winner was Ali Baba that raced fourth the outer mostly but could not kick on with the leading trio the run home. Fifth home was El Luchador and he was beaten over nine lengths after racing sixth then fifth the outer. Sixth home was the topweight Tommyra that ran fourth favourite and sat back second last the outer before making a wide run across the top. He briefly reached fourth wide across the top then weakened the run in and was beaten almost eleven lengths. The last pair home Banks Road and Delegate were beaten just under thirteen lengths and just over thirteen lengths at the line and both never really looked a hope but were not totally disgraced. The winner The Cossack is building up a super Hurdle record and has a lot more jumps success ahead of him. Bak Da Master will always keep fields honest with his on-pace style and his hurdle record of six starts for three wins and three seconds says it all. Locharburn is the up and comer as today was just his third hurdle outing and first defeat but he has a big race in him for sure at least once. It was a small but select field today that contested the feature Hurdle event and many of these names will appear again in the Premier Hurdle events and even some Steeplechase events this year too.