HUNTINGDON 14:40

All 10 ran. Hurdles: 12. Race Distance Adjustment: +172 yds

Time: 6m 34.4s Closing Sectional: (3.85f): 60.9s (96.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 113%, Betfair SP 100.1%

A useful handicap hurdle, though only a handful held realistic chances of qualifying for the final; the joint favourites both flopped, but Invicta Lake soon took them along at a fair gallop and the form should prove reliable.

TAJ BADALANDABAD (IRE) resumed his progress over this 3f longer trip with cheekpieces replacing the visor worn at Sandown 8 weeks earlier; ridden more patiently than usual, smooth headway from 4 out, loomed up home turn, went on before 2 out, shaken up approaching last, kept going well; should continue to give a good account.

WESTREN WARRIOR (IRE) improved again, this effort likely to have booked his place in the final at Cheltenham in 7 weeks; prominent, travelled better than most, ridden home turn, every chance when hit last, kept on; will continue to run well.

SO FINE (IRE) got back on track; handy, pushed along after 4 out, driven home turn, hung left, stayed on from 2 out though no match for principals; finished down the field in last season's final at Cheltenham, and will likely struggle to even get into this year's renewal.

INVICTA LAKE (IRE) had a change of tactics reverting to timber 6 weeks after making his chasing debut, and ran creditably; made running, shaken up after 4 out, headed before 2 out, no extra.

UN ACE (FR) wasn't disgraced back up in trip, though it'll be no surprise if he goes back over fences before too long; raced along inside in rear of mid-division, outpaced 4 out, plugged on from next.

EMINENT POET was chasing a hat-trick but had been given a hefty 17 lb rise after Towcester and didn't get home over this much longer trip; chased leader, flattened 3 out, weakened before next.

ASCENDANT ran one of his lesser races upped in trip, form is proving patchy; raced wide in mid-field, driven before 3 out, soon beaten.

KERISPER (FR) was easy to back and finished very tired, though he was starting to make his move when losing ground and momentum at the fourth last and is worth another chance to build on a promising start to his hurdling career; mid-field, headway when bad mistake 4 out, pushed along approaching next, weakened before 2 out.

AMIRAL COLLONGES (FR) was well backed 6 weeks after making a really good impression at Ascot, but clearly wasn't 100% on the day; waited with, never travelling well, pushed along 4 out, lost touch before next.

SINGLEFARMPAYMENT found his run of good form coming to a halt; held up, stumbled fifth, brief headway 4 out, struggling when pulled up before 2 out.