AINTREE 15:30

Non Runners: SPLASH OF GINGE. Fences: 16.

Time: 4m 52.2s Closing Sectional: (3.15f): 45.1s (102.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 115%, Betfair SP 100.6%

An ordinary renewal of this valuable early-autumn prize, with the veteran Wishfull Thinking nearly repeating his 2014 win despite having to shoulder top weight, whilst it could again pay to take a relatively cautious view of the form due to the varying degrees of fitness on show; the pace was a good one.

SOUND INVESTMENT (IRE) showed the benefit of his reappearance spin over hurdles and produced a career-best effort back in this sphere - a likeable type, he's now won 5 of his last 9 starts over fences, so it's not out of the question he'll do better still; mid-division, travelled smoothly, in contention from end of back straight, shaken up home turn, produced to lead before last, kept on well.

WISHFULL THINKING was off the same mark as when running away with this race last year and, having lost his way in the second half of 2014/15, he got back on track after 7 months off; mid-division, travelled well, headway from end of back straight, shaken up home turn, rallied well from 2 out; inconsistent nowadays and uncertain to reproduce this form next time.

BUYWISE (IRE) keeps shaping well in handicaps, doing so again after 7 months off; held up, crept closer early in straight, ridden from 2 out, stayed on, as if he needs the emphasis more on stamina nowadays.

BRAVE SPARTACUS (IRE) was fit from a recent spin on the Flat and ran respectably back over fences despite an uncharacteristic early blunder, simply looking a shade too high in the weights now; prominent, bad mistake fourth (fluent otherwise), took over tenth, kicked on early in straight, headed before last, no extra run-in.

DUKE OF NAVAN (IRE) shaped better than the bare result after 6 months off, the combination of that absence plus interference at a vital stage seeming to take its toll late on - he should be sharper next time; waited with, smooth headway back straight, hampered after eleventh, every chance home turn, challenged 2 out, weakened latter stages.

LE BACARDY (FR) had it to do from 1 lb out of the handicap (his Market Rasen win hasn't worked out all that well) but he still turned in rather a lacklustre display after 5 months off, perhaps lacking sharpness; taken wide, dropped out, still plenty to do end of back straight, brushed aside from home turn, never landed a blow.

LORD BEN (IRE) shaped better than the distance beaten suggests but was again found wanting in the latter stages and, in truth, he's been operating below his best since returning from an 11-month absence; forced pace, raced freely, headed when mistakes back straight (notably bad error 5 out), still upsides home turn, folded from 2 out; difficult to assess at present.

SURF AND TURF (IRE) back over fences, might have needed the run after 3 months off, but he essentially looks too high in the weights now; waited with, not fluent second, some headway back straight, weakened from 2 out, already well held when blundered last.

JOHNS SPIRIT (IRE) endured no luck on this return from 7 months off and the run is best ignored - he goes well at Cheltenham and will presumably head now for another crack at the Paddy Power Gold Cup (won in 2013 & narrow second in 2014), though he could prove vulnerable to up-and-coming younger rivals this time around; mid-division, clouted tenth, lost all chance when badly hampered after next, dropped to rear as a result and not recover (pulled up before last).

RAJDHANI EXPRESS met a sad end on his first start since running out a wide-margin winner of the Topham here back in April; in touch, broke down after eleventh, fatally injured.