WEXFORD 15:10

All 4 ran. Fences: 14.

Time: 6m 1.5s Closing Sectional: (4.3f): 69.2s (97.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 111%, Betfair SP 100.8%

A listed event short on numbers but not quality, a trio of smart novice chasers from last season on show, a Cheltenham and Punchestown runner-up sent off favourite but proving no match for one who looks set to make his own mark on the spring festivals this time around.

CHAMPAGNE CLASSIC (IRE) followed up from his Fairyhouse maiden success in similarly impressive fashion, marking himself out as very much a novice to follow this season, possessing far too much class for a battle-hardened rival; chased leader, jumped fine, travelled strongly, not fluent third, led between 3 out and 2 out, impressive; there's better to come and he's likely to be posed a serious question in something like the Drinmore next time ahead of likely bids at the major spring Festivals.

DISCORAMA (FR) perhaps somewhat surprisingly sent off favourite, made a perfectly respectable return from 6 months off, all of his powers clearly still intact, a thoroughly likeable and smart gelding in his own right but just short of the winner's class; held up, jumped fine, took closer order tenth, second 2 out, kept on, no match for winner; he looks set for another productive campaign, valuable staying handicaps probably the way to go.

ROARING BULL (IRE) in a change of headgear, had plenty to find on these terms and wasn't disgraced after 6 months off, valuable handicaps likely to prove more his bag this season; in rear, not fluent first or third, took closer order tenth, mistake 3 out, left behind from 2 out.

KUPATANA (IRE) an expensive purchase having won both her completed starts for Paul Nicholls, proved to be a disappointment making her Irish debut after 6 months off, a combination of factors to blame, her race fitness perhaps not at a good enough level to pull off such positive tactics, whilst she was also let down by errors in the second half of the contest; raced clear, mistake eighth, not fluent next, reduced advantage tenth, not fluent 3 out, headed after, soon beaten; she should be much closer to form next time.