WORCESTER 15:50

Non Runners: BEN CEE PEE M (IRE), BALLINURE (IRE). Hurdles: 10. Race Distance Adjustment: +88 yds

Time: 4m 56.3s Closing Sectional: (3.35f): 47.4s (102.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 117%, Betfair SP 99.3%

Plenty of these are summed up by their marks at the minute, the one notable exception being the reformed character Newton Geronimo, who dismissed the others in really impressive fashion and, in this form, should have little trouble extending his winning sequence; the pace set by Lady of Longstone was only fair, all bar 2 still in contention approaching the straight.

NEWTON GERONIMO has turned over a new leaf, clearly in the form of his life at the minute, and will continue to be hard to beat in the near future; mid-field, tanked along, took closer order 4 out, went on next, quickened clear soon after, stayed on really strongly when pushed along after the last, still extending his advantage as the line approached.

ZALGARRY (FR) looked one of the better-treated runners despite a 7 lb rise for Ffos Las and fully backed up that effort, just no match for one that was miles ahead of his mark on the day; mid-field, headway approaching 3 out, chased leader next, kept on, eased around 3 lengths close home; he won't always come up against a handicap blot, likely to be of interest next time, too.

PURPLE 'N GOLD (IRE) was back over hurdles for the first time in a while and ran creditably, excuses hard to come by; prominent, pushed along approaching 3 out, kept on.

TAIGAN (FR) mightn't be the force of old but showed that he retains a fair amount of ability having started to slip in the weights; in first-time tongue strap, prominent main group, shaken up 3 out, mistake next, not quicken.

RAVEN'S TOWER (USA) wasn't disgraced returned to hurdles without fully convincing at this longer trip (usually raced around 2m); held up, travelled well, shaken up after 3 out, headway soon after, one paced approaching last.

ABSOLUTLYFANTASTIC showed he's not a completely lost cause after 8 weeks off, maybe benefiting from more patient tactics than usual; held up, travelled better than most, shaken up after 3 out, made no impression.

LADY OF LONGSTONE (IRE) continues to shape as though the handicapper has her measure; led-in at start, made running, reduced advantage fourth, shaken up after 4 out, headed next, faded.

SATANIC BEAT (IRE) was beaten by more than lack of stamina over this longer trip in first-time cheekpieces after just 3 days off, essentially continuing out of sorts; patiently ridden, not fluent fifth, lost touch after 4 out.

DURSEY SOUND (IRE) had reportedly bled on his previous start and again ran poorly returned to hurdling, quite possibly amiss once more so tamely did he check out; mid-field, pushed along sixth, dropped away after 4 out.