TOWCESTER 13:35

All 11 ran. Hurdles: 11.

Time: 5m 14s Closing Sectional: (3.65f): 53.85s (101.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 117%, Betfair SP 99.8%

A pair of stable-switchers finished first and second ahead of an unexposed handicap debutant in a handicap that should make for pretty strong form; the pace was sound.

LORD OF THE ISLAND (IRE) whose new stable is going well, proved a different propositiion on his first outing since leaving Sally Randell after 7 months off, improving on anything he'd done before to run out an impressive winner; mid-division, travelled powerfully, headway 4 out, led 2 out, quickened clear, had plenty in hand; he'll take all the beating next time in this form.

MOVIE LEGEND without a tongue strap this time, produced hi sbest effort to date on his first outing since leaving Ben Case after 7 months off, the change of stable having done him some good and unlucky to bump into one; close up, went with zest, every chance when pushed along before 2 out, kept on, no match for winner.

VIVE LE ROI (IRE) ran well making handicap debut after 7 months off, running into a better-handicapped pair but fairly treated himself, not to mention still unexposed; made running, went with enthusiasm, jumped left sixth, pushed along before 2 out, headed there, mistake last, one paced.

ASCOTDEUX NELLERIE (FR) claimer ridden back over hurdles, got back on track but looked a bit slow and will be worth trying over further still, his pedigree as well as his run style suggesting he's got the makings of a stayer; held up, driven 4 out, plodded on, never a threat.

VERYGOODVERYGOOD (FR) unpenalised and accordingly strong in the betting, had winning run ended, just not in the same form and probably finding a third race of the month one too many, having had to work hard at Chepstow last time; mid-division, not fluent seventh, ridden 4 out, not quicken, weakened 2 out.

DOCTOR LOOK HERE (IRE) shaped as if better for the run after 7 months off; dropped out, shaken up briefly 3 out, no threat, not given at all a hard time; he's got some good form that suggests this sort of mark may not be beyond him another time (worth noting in the market).

VEDANI (IRE) wasn't in the same form as last time, though he did leave the impression this stiff extended 2½m was maybe too much for him; chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened.

QUEBEC without the headgear this time, might have needed the run on his first outing since leaving Charlie Mann after 8 weeks off; held up, pushed along before 3 out, made little impression.

KING COOL failed to come on for recent run; mid-division, blundered first, went prominent sixth, pushed along before 3 out, weakened.

ARMEDANDDANGEROUS (IRE) better known as a low-grade chaser, was probably having a pipe-opener after 9 months off, rather out of his pay-grade back over hurdles for the first time in nearly 5 years and with a tongue strap replacing his usual blinkers, not that he went with any particular promise; prominent, lost place before fifth, never going well after, tailed off 4 out.

MR FICKLE (IRE) ran badly; in rear, off the bridle long way out, tailed off 4 out.