SANDOWN PARK 15:00

Non Runners: FOXCUB (IRE), BAYWING (IRE). Hurdles: 11.

Time: 6m 5.7s Closing Sectional: (5.85f): 94s (97.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 117%, Betfair SP 101.4%

With only 3 giving their running this form might be knocked in some quarters but that trio that fought out a tight finish are all progressive and/or fairly treated so there's no reason to be negative about them; despite nothing getting involved from off the pace it was a truly-run affair which took shape fully after they'd passed the omitted third last flight which was damaged on the first circuit.

SADDLERS ENCORE (IRE) was fitter for comeback, much tighter in the betting 6 weeks on, also suited by stepping back up in trip, and showed improved form for a first handicap success, fending off another pair that are on fair marks; prominent, shaken up passing 3 out, upsides 2 out, edged ahead before last, wandered around a bit but dug deep under pressure to hold on; will stay 3m+ and is open to further improvement, this only his fifth hurdles start (has won 3 of them), and the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham looks a likely target - his reappearance fifth in a qualifier ensures he can run.

JOIN THE CLAN (IRE) was straight back over hurdles and returned to form, at least as good as ever in fact, around this time in 2015 that he thrived as well; chased leaders, outpaced briefly end of back straight, rallied well, every chance 2 out, stuck to task; he shaped better than the bare result (raced wide throughout) in last year's Pertemps Final from a 3 lb higher mark than he competed off here and will probably have that race as his target again.

YALA ENKI (FR) had been raised a harsh-looking 8 lb for his Lanzarote success 4 weeks ago but is going the right way and showed further improvement to be competitive again, determined from the front having set a sound pace, stamina not an issue over the longest trip he's tackled; led, ridden when joined 2 out, headed before last, rallied well flat; he ought to continue in form and, though he's not tried chasing yet for this yard, it's worth remembering he was a dual winner over fences in France and has valuable handicap options in that sphere, too.

LITTLE BOY BORU (IRE) seems to be going through the motions at present, barely a sniff of him winning a race this season, yet the handicapper has hardly relented (albeit 2 lb out of weights this time); in rear, struggling soon after 3 out, plodded on, never on terms.

IBIS DU RHEU (FR) failed to stay the 2f longer trip, his high-class brother Saphir De Rheu the exception rather than the rule in his family with regards trip requirements; mid-division, travelled better than most, tracked pace eighth, driven before 2 out, blundered there, found nothing; he's likely to prove best up to 21f.

INVICTA LAKE (IRE) won this race last year from just 1 lb lower but, turned out relatively quickly, wasn't on a going day this time around; held up, driven passing 3 out, pulled up before next.

ANTEROS (IRE) followed a good run with a below-par one; held up, not settle fully, hit fourth, in touch eighth, folded tamely before 2 out, might have been amiss.

DONNA'S DIAMOND (IRE) found his run of good form coming to abrupt halt, running no sort of race and not looking straightforward; reluctant at the start, urged along to chase leaders first, lost place passing 3 out, soon done with, pulled up.

MEDINAS (FR) is potentially well handicapped, a Grade 2 winner in autumn 2014, but he's had injury problems since and ran poorly returning from 14 months off; in rear, off the bridle long way out, struggling badly seventh, pulled up before last; clearly has something to prove now for all that it's not out of the question that he was very rusty/badly in need of this outing.