WOLVERHAMPTON 16:50

All 8 ran.

Time: 2m 36.86s Closing Sectional: (2f): 23.5s (109.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 114%, Betfair SP 101.8%

A useful handicap, albeit not that truly run, things getting a bit messy late on with the form not the easiest to weigh up as a result, though there's no doubt over Winterlude's superiority, coming from right out the back to score with something in hand.

WINTERLUDE (IRE) hadn't been seen to best effect in a muddling race last time, and had to overcome the run of things here to resume winning ways, doing well to come from furthest back, ultimately seeming to score with a bit in hand; patiently ridden, travelled well, forced wide home turn, good headway from early in straight, edged left but stayed on to lead late on; the narrow margins involved mean he shouldn't go up much for this so remains one to be intersted in.

SPES NOSTRA had a 5 lb higher mark to contend with than when readily winning a much weaker race over shorter last time, but ran at least as well on this occasion and his new yard clearly have him back at the top of his game, albeit seeming beaten on merit having been better placed than most; in touch, went on 2f out, headed only late on, stayed on.

MASTERPAVER ran well, this effort confirming the impression that he seems to be building up to something; mid-division, ridden 2f out, chased leader approaching final 1f, kept on; on his last winning mark so ought to go close again.

CASTILO DEL DIABLO (IRE) ran creditably despite not being seen to best effect, but his near 2-year losing run is testament to the fact that he's not easy to win with nowadays; held up, effort over 2f out, forced wide home turn, ran on late, never nearer.

SBRAASE ran well on form, albeit in a muddling race, never posing a win threat; mid-field, effort 2f out, short of room briefly final 1f, one paced.

FIRST MOHICAN finished ahead of the winner when last seen 9 weeks earlier and left the impression he'd have made much more of an impact granted a fair crack; waited with, raced freely, headway when met some trouble entering final 1f, keeping on when hampered again late on, finished with running left; not one to give up on just yet.

PADDYS MOTORBIKE (IRE) may not have been beaten far but that owes plenty to the run of the race, never a threat; mid-division, ridden from end of back straight, lost place over 1f out.

WORDINESS gained all 4 of last year's wins over further than this and probably needed run after 5 months off; made running, took keen hold, headed 2f out, weakened final 1f.