WINCANTON 15:00

All 7 ran. Hurdles: 7. Race Distance Adjustment: +11 yds

Time: 3m 48.7s Closing Sectional: (6.5f): 95.5s (101.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 116%, Betfair SP 100.1%

No shortage of interest for this valuable prize despite the small field, and each of the first 3 must be on the radar for good handicaps to come; the runner-up set just an even gallop and, even under testing conditions, it was a pretty sharp test.

LONDON PRIZE thriving on the Flat in 2017 (2-time winner and also second in the Cesarewitch), had cheekpieces on for the first time and showed himself equally adept in this sphere in landing his second valuable handicap hurdle (won last season's Imperial Cup); prominent, upsides 3 out, went on before next, in command last, stayed on well; a real dual-purpose money spinner, he's a fine advert for his in-form trainer and seems sure to go well in other valuable handicaps, with his Flat form strongly suggesting he'll have no trouble going beyond 2m.

LOUGH DERG SPIRIT (IRE) well backed making handicap debut after 7 months off, ran well on form while leaving the impression this test was plenty sharp enough, longer trips and fences sure to be the making of him, still with lots of potential intact after just 5 starts; made running, headed before 2 out, outpaced there, rallied well last, stuck to task.

FLYING TIGER (IRE) who'd run well in a group race on that Flat recently, ran his best race yet back over timber from a mark 7 lb higher than the one off which he won the Fred Winter last season, an effort that bodes well for the season ahead, with a bigger field scenario likely to suit; dropped out, went prominent before 3 out, second when shaken up 2 out, one paced flat.

CHARBEL (IRE) a smart novice over fences last season, looked a little rusty back hurdling after 7 months off, caught out when the gallop lifted after making a couple of minor mistakes, but doing enough to think all his ability is intact; prominent, not fluent third, 3 out, outpaced before next, no chance after.

COEUR DE LION in good form on the Flat in 2017, wasn't disgraced with a 10-lb claimer up back over hurdles but didn't have the pace to cope with this sharp test and surely needs stepping up to 2½m+ if he's going to find the improvement needed to win a handicap from this opening mark; held up, outpaced 3 out, struggling badly home turn, plugged on.

ZUBAYR (IRE) who'd run well on all 3 Flat starts in 2017, was below form back hurdling after 3 months off, possibly not effective on ground this soft; held up, in touch 3 out, pushed along next, weakened last.

MELODIC RENDEZVOUS has been a grand servant but ran badly after 8 months off and has reportedly been retired; mid-division, not fluent second, lost place fourth, beaten long way out.