EXETER 15:30

All 13 ran. Fences: 21.

Time: 8m 6.74s Closing Sectional: (2.14f): 38.4s (89.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 127%, Betfair SP 99.1%

This marathon handicap was an open race on paper, as indicated by the market, but in event it proved anything but, Catching On sauntering through the field to dismiss some vastly more-experienced chasers with any amount in hand, the third providing substance to the form; a contested lead ensured a reasonable pace.

CATCHING ON (IRE) progressed again and was mightily impressive, following up his win at Huntingdon without coming off the bridle, value for near double the margin of victory; in rear, not always fluent in the early stages but travelled strongly, smooth headway from fourteenth, challenged 3 out, went on next, in command soon after, very easily; completely unexposed as a staying chaser he is very much one to keep on side, and would make obvious appeal if taking his chance in next week's Midlands National.

COOLKING backed at long odds, ran his best race since finishing runner-up in this contest last year, now 12 lb lower so clearly well handicapped if this can be built on, his new yard (has left Lawney Hill - wore tongue tie latest start) having already shown their prowess with other recruits in recent months; disputed lead until 2 out, kept on, no match for winner.

COPPER BIRCH (IRE) ran creditably, proving his effectiveness over this trip, though is no more than averagely treated at present; patiently ridden, headway approaching fourteenth, shaken up 4 out, one paced.

FINISH THE STORY (IRE) wasn't disgraced, but couldn't repeat the form of his wide-margin romp at Southwell (penalised 7 lb), the precise merit of that success very hard to quantify; mid-division, went with zest, headway approaching eleventh, upsides until 4 out, one paced.

EMMA SODA ran respectably after a further 11 weeks off; disputed lead until thirteenth, remained prominent, ridden when hung left approaching 2 out, one paced.

THOMAS WILD wasn't at his best, losing his unbeaten chase record at this track when completing; waited with, typically made mistakes, crept closer approaching sixteenth, ridden approaching next, plodded on.

BANG ON TIME (IRE) didn't get home stepping up in trip, again shaping as if in decent heart, though his jumping is increasingly becoming a worry; held up, jumped sketchily, headway approaching fourteenth, faltered approaching 4 out.

SPANISH ARCH (IRE) turned in a lacklustre display, beaten long before the trip became an issue, confirming suspicions over his temperament; prominent, went in snatches (given reminders soon after start), lost place approaching fifteenth, soon done with.

VIKING BLOND (FR) after 8 weeks off, had a tongue strap replacing a visor and found his mini-revival coming to an abrupt halt, not on a going day, taking limited interest from an early stage; raced off the pace, jumped/travelled with little fluency, lost touch 5 out.

SAFRAN DE COTTE (FR) strong in the betting, failed to build on the promise of his last run, turning things in very quickly, a horse to treat with caution despite a favourable mark; in touch, lost place approaching fourteenth, found nothing.

BALLYPATRICK (IRE) attracted support, on a handy mark based on his best form, but he offered little after 4 months off; mid-division, blundered thirteenth, lost place approaching next, struggling badly 5 out.

GORGEHOUS LLIEGE (FR) ran poorly, presumably feeling the effects of his gruelling exertions at Ffos Las 5 weeks earlier; disputed lead until twelfth, reminders approaching fourteenth, folded 5 out.

MERLIN'S WISH having his first outing since falling in the National Hunt Chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival, could hardly have shown any less; mid-division, jumped left and soon off bridle, lost place third, lost touch before halfway.