WARWICK 15:10

Non Runners: FREE WORLD (FR). Fences: 15. Race Distance Adjustment: +7 yds

Time: 5m 44.2s Closing Sectional: (3.8f): 59.7s (109.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 116%, Betfair SP 100.1%

An ordinary bunch in this handicap and it doesn't say much for the strength of the form that the runner-up went so close despite a poor round of jumping; they went a steady pace, probably mindful of worsening conditions.

MERCHANT OF MILAN after 11 months off, finally going off the mark, succeeding right away for a new yard where he failed in 13 tries for his previous one (had left Brendan Powell), not that it took much improvement in a weak race; in touch, upsides tenth, edged ahead home turn, headed 2 out, led again run-in, edged right, kept going well, all out; his profile suggests he's not an obvious one to follow up, though perhaps his new trainer will get a bit more out of him, with stepping back up in trip an option.

I AM COLIN back down in trip, ran well in the end but would've won if he'd jumped at all fluently, as many negatives as positives to take from the run in truth; tracked pace, made numerous mistakes, lost place eighth, rallied 4 out, led before 2 out, blundered again there, headed when carried right run-in, stuck to task, just failed.

WISH IN A WELL (IRE) failed to come on for recent run; held up, mistake eighth, headway tenth, effort 3 out, left behind before next.

EATON ROCK (IRE) shaped better than the distance beaten suggests but finished disconcertingly tamely and might well have been amiss; led until shaken up home turn, found nothing.

MOSTLY BOB (IRE) in change of headgear, continues out of sorts, seemingly retaining little enthusiasm; never travelling well, behind from fourth, well held tenth.

SEVENTH HUSSAR without a tongue strap this time, ran badly; raced wide, mid-division, folded before 5 out.

RIVERSBRIDGE continues to show little; chased leaders until tenth, weakened before 5 out, beaten when bad mistake there.

PRINCESSE FLEUR successful on her only previous try over fences, went as if retaining ability after 18 months off, shaping no worse than fifth best until her absence took its toll, lack of stamina faced with testing conditions possibly coming into it as well; dropped out, headway tenth, shaken up 3 out, folded, not knocked about.