LEICESTER 13:45

All 4 ran. Fences: 12.

Time: 3m 54.8s Closing Sectional: (3.25f): 47.8s (100.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 109%, Betfair SP 100.1%

Muddling form and hard to escape the view that, even in victory, Desirable Court ran some way below the form shown when seeing off Amour de Nuit over Christmas, ridden differently over a shorter trip this time; the pace was honest.

DESIRABLE COURT (IRE) won her third chase, beating a grand total of 5 rivals along the way, only just getting away with the drop in trip; disputed lead, pressed on approaching straight, reduced advantage 2 out, steadied into last, tackled run-in, driven out; for all this was rather underwhelming, she has more than paid her way for the season.

HOPE'S WISHES produced comfortably her best effort over fences, probably flattered to some extent, though this is more explainable when remembering she was once pushing this sort of level over hurdles; in rear, effort 3 out, looked held between last 2, challenged strongly run-in, held near finish; it virtually goes without saying that she's by no means certain to run close to this sort of figure next time.

BLACKDOWN HILLS took a leap forward, understandable given she has the build of a chaser and this was just her third start over fences; in touch, challenged after 2 out, every chance still last, kept on, held only late on; her future prospects may well depend on how the handicapper reacts to this.

ARIAN (IRE) as things panned out, a reproduction of her chasing debut form might have been enough to take this, but she clearly wasn't 100% on the day (said to have bled); disputed lead, faltered approaching 3 out, dropped right away.