The track at Trentham was a total bog as usual with a maiden 1400m running almost 1:37 incredibly and that is nearly thirteen seconds below standard or seventy-eight lengths. This Prestige Hurdle over 3200m saw The Shackler lead throughout and carry his topweight of 69kg with ease and score by almost eight lengths in 4:09.94. The footing was so testing on the course proper that making ground was near impossible and the margins in this race showed it let alone the fact four of eleven runners did not finish. The Shackler was winning his thirteenth race from seventy starts and as a hurdler his fifth win from ten outings of which notably there are now three Prestige events. The rising 12yo is making a mockery of the younger opposition that is not there or very effective so the depth is clearly not coming through in the jumps ranks and these old jumpers cannot go on forever. That's David, a rising 13yo ran the quinella and after trailing the eventual winner did his usual drop back habit and he turned for home seemingly a battling fifth before getting a second wind. His now expected come back the closing stages saw him reach second the inside with 50m to go. Wee Biskit, a rising 10yo mare sat back then moved up second at the 800m and tried hard but wilted and was a distant third at the line. El Corby got back but moved into fourth across the top and actually reached third turning for home before weakening to fourth at the 200m. Game Percy was let drift so far back he become detached and in ground like today that was certain doom, with the gelding passing a few very distantly across the top. He ended up fifth beaten almost twenty-eight lengths. Sixth home and almost fifty-two lengths back was Hesalljazz that never really got into the race and Kings Deep was the last finisher in seventh beaten nearly sixty-six lengths. Ngatira Gold, Notabadrooster and Mailly all pulled up exhausted and spent near the 400m with the former having hit a fence very hard 800m prior that knocked the stuffing out of him. The clear favourite It's A Wonder raced fifth and reached third across the top before being fourth turning for home only to lose his rider at the second last fence. These older jumpers are not getting any younger opposition and the depth they meet each season is getting vastly inferior worryingly too. They cannot go on forever so where the younger brigade of leapers are at the moment is anyone's guess, as they are not standing up to be counted and have not been for years. The Shackler has not won past 3200m but his front running style does cause his rivals to make mistakes. The footing today was so terrible and energy-sapping that the result is misleading with two of the three oldest runners in the race forming a clear cut quinella.