UTTOXETER 15:35

Non Runners: BEST BOY BARNEY (IRE). Fences: 18.

Time: 6m 34.2s Closing Sectional: (2.6f): 37.1s (106%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 129%, Betfair SP 97.1%

A valuable prize for this time of year and it attracted a competitive field in terms of numbers, though not many appealed as being well handicapped beforehand and it may not prove to be the strongest form for the grade, with the proximity of the fourth from well out of the handicap adding weight to such a conclusion; the pace wasn't a bad one, but those held up still seemed at a slight disadvantage given how things unfolded.

SHUIL ROYALE (IRE) after 8 weeks off, got back on track to make it 3 wins from just 4 starts since joining this excellent yard, a change in the saddle also possibly contributing to a career-best effort; mid-division, jumped fine, travelled strongly, good progress home turn, produced to lead 2 out, asserted quickly, well on top finish; may do better still.

SILVER MAN has struck up a fine partnership with this jockey (now 2 wins and 2 seconds), losing nothing in defeat here off a mark 20 lb higher than for the first of their 4 outings together; helped force pace (despite stumbling at start), jumped fine, went with zest, pressed on leaving back straight, headed 2 out, stuck to task, albeit no match for winner; likely to continue in form.

ADRENALIN FLIGHT (IRE) ran well and essentially needs no excuses, simply summed up by his handicap mark now (raised 8 lb for his Fontwell win); waited with, good progress over circuit out, every chance from home turn, ridden from 3 out, stuck to task, albeit no match for winner; probably found this barely enough of a test (stays 4m).

HARANGUE (IRE) after just 6 days off, seemed to excel himself from 13 lb out of the handicap but, judging by his overall record alone, there must be a chance he'll prove flattered by this; handy, raced freely, every chance home turn, one paced from 2 out.

SPEED MASTER (IRE) ran respectably back over fences after 5 weeks off, but had no excuses and doubts remain about how long his current spell of good form will last; helped force pace, jumped soundly in main, driven after 3 out, one paced from next.

TWIRLING MAGNET (IRE) is in better heart than recent form figures suggest, seeming to find his stamina stretched for the second successive start, waiting tactics also possibly counting against him here; held up, smooth headway from early, good progress home turn, challenged early in straight, weakened from 2 out, finished tired; not one to write off in similar company, particularly if dropped back in trip (may prove best at up to 3m).

SAIL AND RETURN was below form on his hat-trick bid (3 lb out of handicap), but wasn't seen to best advantage and this run is probably best ignored; waited with, travelled better than most, still plenty to do end of back straight, late headway but never on terms, left poorly placed given how things unfolded; type to bounce back quickly.

THE PACKAGE disappointed again after 10 weeks off and, in truth, his form has been patchy for several years now (his runaway Kim Muir win is very much a standout effort over past 12 months); mid-division, went rather in snatches, lost place over circuit out, reminders back straight, plenty to do home turn, rallied well late without ever landing a serious blow; something to prove at present.

THOMAS WILD looks too high in weights now but still had an off-day, even allowing for the fact that waiting tactics arguably weren't ideal here; held up, still plenty to do early final circuit, driven after thirteenth, plugged on, never on terms; type to bounce back quickly.

BEAR'S AFFAIR (IRE) after 7 weeks off, produced a rare below-par effort; mid-division, shaken up back straight, lost place soon after, dropped away from home turn, well held; has far more good runs than bad ones on his CV, so probably best forgiven this, particularly as he may benefit from a break.

SEDGEMOOR EXPRESS (IRE) without the headgear this time, ran no sort of race but it may pay to ignore this effort, particularly as his stable's other 2 runners on the card ran too badly to be true as well; waited with, early mistakes, reminders after seventh, beaten some way out; type to bounce back quickly.

MIDNIGHT APPEAL might have needed the run after 3 months off but, in truth, his capitulation early in the straight suggests other factors might have been at play, particularly as he was fitted with a tongue strap on this first outing since being bought out of Alan King's stable; close up, jumped better than is often the case, travelled well, still in touch when blundered 4 out, folded tamely; potentially well handicapped now, but has become disappointing of late (including over hurdles).

BENBANE HEAD (USA) ran poorly after 11 weeks off; in touch, typically not fluent, outpaced from early final circuit as a result, held when mistake 4 out; badly out of sorts on 3 of last 4 starts now, so clearly something to prove at present.

HOLLOW BLUE SKY (FR) is increasingly hard to predict and, after 7 weeks off, ran another one of his lesser races; mid-division, lost place before halfway, never going well after; unreliable.

UNIVERSAL SOLDIER (IRE) went backwards from his reappearance, refitted with headgear but producing an even more laboured display; mid-division, never travelling well, lost place early, beaten long way out; plenty to prove at present.

SAMINGARRY (FR) after 7 weeks off, found run of good form coming to a halt, though this was too bad to be true and he's almost certainly better judged on previous form (his stable's runners all performed lamentably on this card); close up, labouring badly from early final circuit, already well held when blundered 5 out.

AINSI FIDELES (FR) almost certainly needs respite from the handicapper but still ran poorly here, let down by his jumping as much as anything; in touch, untidy first, generally not fluent after, dropped away home turn, already held when blundered 4 out.