SANDOWN PARK 15:50

Non Runners: TWIRLING MAGNET (IRE). Fences: 24.

Time: 7m 35.8s

Overrounds: Industry SP 128%, Betfair SP 99.2%

A deeply competitive running of this long-standing final-day highlight, the trademark absence of obviously progressive types more than counterbalanced by its sheer quality, with as many as 17 of the field boasting a Timeform rating of at least 140, and the race itself fully delivered as 4 of those in the upper echelons pulled away from the rest as the going got really tough from the home turn, the third and fourth as solid as they come and the pair ahead having long since threatened such efforts, the quartet all very much at home when the emphasis is so firmly on stamina, as it was with Opening Batsman going off hard in front.

HADRIAN'S APPROACH (IRE) retried in headgear, finally put it all together on the big day having been freshened up since Cheltenham, not only leaving behind last season's fifth in this race (when second favourite) but proving better than ever, a more assured display of jumping, plus the thorough stamina test on just his second crack at a marathon trip, both obvious catalysts; patiently ridden, crept closer tenth, good progress out wide 4 out, chased leader from home turn, found plenty to lead as runner-up tired inside final 1f, driven out as he idled somewhat; he'll presumably have another tilt at the Hennessy early next season, though that top-end handicap tends to feature more than a smattering of relatively unexposed types.

BURTON PORT (IRE) put his Aintree mishap behind him with the tongue strap discarded, running even better in an agonising defeat than when also touched off at Newbury last month under another positive ride, going like the best at the weights in fact, not what he was but still a smart chaser with plenty to offer; tracked pace, jumped superbly, went with enthusiasm, challenged fifteenth, kicked on after 3 out and still 2 lengths clear crossing last, closed down soon after and unable to respond when caught inside final 1f; he'll reportedly have the Grand National on his agenda again next season, though a campaign revolving around that race alone would seem a waste, a veterans race at the very least his for the taking.

GODSMEJUDGE (IRE) ran well to be placed in another prestigious handicap, his toughness and consistency major attributes, no mean feat to deliver again just 2 weeks after giving his all over 4m at Ayr, Roalco des Farges coming from the same race but not coping with the turnaround so well; mid-field, went prominent tenth, mistake thirteenth, effort when ridden before 3 out, kept on well from 2 out.

RESTLESS HARRY has had a season of remarkable recovery and, back on softer ground, wasted no time getting back to form 6 weeks on from Cheltenham, predictably proving very much at home given a rare try at an extreme trip and even then not seen to best advantage, sure to have finished closer still but for an early error putting him on the back foot, arguably unlucky not to win for all he had plenty of time to recover; mid-field, lost place when clouted fourth, not fluent sixth, outpaced nineteenth, still plenty to do 4 out, rallied well from next, stuck to task.

SPRING HEELED (IRE) did plenty to confirm the improvement shown at Cheltenham for all he didn't shape so well as his position might suggest after mid-race mistakes had seen him lose his place, looking set to finish well held approaching the straight before passing some tired rivals, displaying boundless stamina upped in trip; chased leader, on back foot after mistakes twelfth and sixteenth, struggling still 2 out (only thirteenth) but finished with a flourish.

SUMMERY JUSTICE (IRE) ran a typical race, not shaping anything like so encouragingly as his finishing position might imply; in rear, jumped ponderously, never travelling well, labouring before halfway, headway under pressure from 3 out, still only eighth next but continued to run on past beaten rivals, nearest at the finish.

ROALCO DE FARGES (FR) possibly found this coming too soon just 2 weeks on from his hard race at Ayr, going as if still in good form only for recent exertions to take their toll in the straight, stamina clearly no excuse this time considering he'd finished a fine second in this race in 2012; patiently ridden, smooth headway 5 out, third when crossing 4 out, every chance still home turn, faltered from 2 out, finished tired.

POUNGACH (FR) followed a good run with below-par one, his attitude not holding up to a far more exacting scenario; mid-field, never going well from circuit out, reminders after seventeenth, plugged on from 3 out, never landed a blow.

CARRUTHERS was in the mix for some way but just isn't up to the task in races of this nature nowadays, notwithstanding his second in the Classic Chase first time back, the competition in this a fair bit tougher and unable to dominate as suits; chased leader, reminders before 5 out, not fluent next, outpaced from 3 out.

BALLY LEGEND looked in the paddock as though he'd had enough for the season and shaped in kind, beaten before the longer trip became a factor (out of a thorough stayer but not short of speed himself), going with little fluency in mid-field and labouring 5 out; he'll bounce back in 2014/15.

ARDKILLY WITNESS (IRE) failed to stay the extreme trip, shaping much better than the distance beaten suggests; tracked pace, travelled better than most, close up when ridden between 4 out and 3 out, still in contention for the frame approaching straight but folded before 2 out.

OPENING BATSMAN (IRE) seemed perked up no end by first-time blinkers after 8 weeks off and took a clear step back in the right direction until an aggressive ride over a trip too far told, shaping much better than the bare result; soon led, went with enthusiasm, joined when slow fifteenth, every chance still 3 out, folded quickly early in straight; had a very hard race, absolutely out on his feet at the line, but at least now has something to build on with a view to potentially recapturing his form from a much-reduced mark next season.

MIDNIGHT APPEAL failed to stay; in rear, kept mistakes to minimum, progress eleventh, driven 4 out, weakened before next.

HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR) got no further than the first, setting the tone for a pretty miserable race for his yard, only the lacklustre Summery Justice completing the course out of their 4 representatives.

EMPEROR'S CHOICE (IRE) ran no sort of race after 6 weeks off, unable to handle conditions in a strongly-contested race (seems reliant on soft/heavy), his yard also showing clear signs of winding down; in rear, never travelling well, beaten long way out.

SAME DIFFERENCE (IRE) second in this race last year from 7 lb higher, was badly let down by his jumping this time around, seemingly losing the plot on that score; handy, mistake third, lost place when clouted sixth, struggling around halfway.

ROSE OF THE MOON (IRE) as in the Grand National, wasn't cut out for the demands of such a competitive race; jumped ponderously, off the bridle long way out, never on terms.

RIGADIN DE BEAUCHENE (FR) was unsuited by less testing conditions for the second time in as many starts since Haydock reappearance win; in rear, jumped more fluently than usual, never travelling well, beaten long way out.

BURY PARADE (IRE) was beaten by more than lack of stamina over 6f longer trip; patiently ridden, pecked fourteenth, brief headway twentieth, stopped quickly, seemed amiss.