UTTOXETER 15:50

Non Runners: CARRUTHERS, BENBANE HEAD (USA), MAJOR MALARKEY (IRE), IKORODU ROAD, BALLYOLIVER, KNOCK A HAND (IRE). Fences: 21.

Time: 9m 36.2s Closing Sectional: (2.61f): 48s (93.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 127%, Betfair SP 99.7%

A severe test of stamina, as usual for the second-longest race in the calendar, and plenty didn't cope, though the improved winner relished the demands of the race in leading home an Irish 1-2; the pace was contested.

GOONYELLA (IRE) was suited by the longer trip and proved better than ever better than ever to come out on top, yet another to boost the form of the Thyestes; mid-division, jumped well, travelled well, in touch circuit out, upsides 4 out, went on next, in command 2 out, kept going well; he'll be best kept to marathon trips from now on.

RAZ DE MAREE (FR) in change of headgear, again ran well, creeping into it from right out the back, clearly in better heart than for a while; dropped out, not always fluent but avoided major mistakes, hampered eighth, headway sixteenth, effort 3 out, stuck to task.

WOODFORD COUNTY wasn't disgraced and just about got away with the trip under such extreme conditions, without necessarily relishing it; in touch, mistake fifth, hit 5 out, ridden next, one paced.

HAWKES POINT seemed not to get home back up in trip and shaped better than the bare result, looking the main threat to the winner early in the straight; mid-division, travelled as well as any, in touch eleventh, mistake fifteenth, upsides 4 out, shaken up next, not quicken, weakened 2 out; remains of interest, blinkers still having a positive effect on this evidence.

FOXBRIDGE (IRE) claimer ridden, had winning run ended but wasn't disgraced, up in trip and grade, evidently still in good form; raced wide at times, held up, hampered eighth, blundered tenth, headway when pushed along 4 out, one paced.

REBECCAS CHOICE (IRE) after 11 weeks off, ran better than last time, looking back in some sort of form, not that there's any leeway in his mark; held up, crept closer eleventh, shaken up fourteenth, chased leaders 4 out, weakened after next.

BERTIE BORU (IRE) a questionable stayer, was well held, never out of rear after jumping none too fluently, though being hampered at the eighth didn't help.

RIGADIN DE BEAUCHENE (FR) was below form in first-time cheekpieces, even with the handicapper relenting fast; disputed lead, chased leader from circuit out, pushed along sixteenth, weakened 4 out.

CATCHING ON (IRE) well-in under a penalty, was all the rage in the betting but failed to complete; mid-division, fell eighth; he's due to be 7 lb higher, though that might not be enough judged on the way he won at Exeter (worth another chance).

SAMINGARRY (FR) in first-time visor and refitted tongue strap, seemingly failed to stay and was on the retreat when departing; disputed lead, went on circuit out, headed 3 out, weakened, beaten when fell next.

GLOBAL POWER (IRE) fell at the first; a 9 lb rise for Ludlow is harsh on the face of it.

SUMMERY JUSTICE (IRE) didn't get the chance to show whether he was in the same form as at Newcastle, in rear when hampered and unseating at the eighth.

CADEAU GEORGE upped in trip, ran poorly and has really struggled each time he's tackled a competitive handicap, his only chase form in smallish fields at Ffos Las; disputed lead, lost place fourteenth, weakened early final circuit.

WYCHWOODS BROOK back over fences, was a blatant non-stayer and ran a lot better than being pulled up suggests; in touch, travelled well, shaken up 4 out, stopped quickly; might need some recovery time but not one to write off, especially if dropped in the weights after this.

BOB FORD (IRE) wasn't in same form as at Ffos Las, unable to dominate this time, though a 12 lb rise doesn't look lenient; in touch, lost place sixth, pushed along 4 out, weakening when hampered next, pulled up.

SHOTGUN PADDY (IRE) ran poorly, jumping problems all of a sudden looking ingrained; mid-division, made mistakes, went in snatches, behind from seventh, pulled up early final circuit.