ASCOT 16:10

All 8 ran. Fences: 20.

Time: 6m 14.8s Closing Sectional: (3.7f): 62.4s (92.6%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 114%, Betfair SP 101.4%

Another good race of its type, the winner lightly raced by veterans' standards and making all at a good pace from 2 who've shown they're still capable of mixing it in open handicaps and another with a win to his name in this company previously this season.

CREEVYTENNANT (IRE) is a veteran in terms of age but less so profile, and he showed he's still improving as he won for the third time this season, even more convincingly than the final margin after 7 weeks off, in the process providing another boost for the Exeter veterans' event won by live Grand National hope Soll, who incidentally makes plenty of appeal at current odds for that race; made all, jumped superbly, travelled powerfully, yet to be asked for effort when approaching 2 out, shaken up after, drew clear quickly and still 12 lengths to good ½f out before tiring, edging left and closed down in the final 50 yds; he is an all-or-nothing type, however, with an eye on next time.

ROALCO DE FARGES (FR) put a trio of disappointments behind him but looked set to be beaten further by the winner for most of the straight, a shade flattered by his final proximity; tracked pace out wide, ridden from 3 out, 12 lengths down ½f out but kept on and closed gap as winner wobbled slightly late on.

WAYWARD PRINCE confirmed his return to much better form, encouraging he could put good efforts back to back, if anything leaving the impression he could take his revival up another notch if returned to further; mid-field, ridden briefly before halfway, outpaced after 5 out, fourth last, finished well, found this barely enough of a test.

AACHEN given more of a break (4 weeks), ran one of his better races of the season; patiently ridden, mistake fifth, headway under pressure before 5 out, third when crossing last, plugged on.

CHARTREUX (FR) retried in headgear after 6 weeks off, showed up much better than in 2 previous runs since returning from an autumn absence but the end result was little different, hitting 4 out and folding from prominence after the next, finishing tired.

FIVE STAR WILSHAM (IRE) ran one of his poorer races of the season; raced off the pace, jumped sketchily, labouring before 5 out.

FIRM ORDER (IRE) followed a below-par effort with an even worse one after 8 weeks off; in touch, lost place before fourteenth, soon done with.

RELAX (FR) couldn't have jumped any worse and had already dropped to rear when his worst mistake at the thirteenth ended his race, immediately pulled up.