AINTREE 15:00

All 8 ran. Fences: 16.

Time: 4m 53.2s Closing Sectional: (3.15f): 46.9s (98.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 114%, Betfair SP 100.8%

There was no hiding place in this year's renewal of the Old Roan, Allmankind setting out to make his fitness tell and responding most generously in the straight to fend off Midnight Shadow initially then Itchy Feet after the last.

ALLMANKIND has been beaten just once over fences, proving himself a very smart chaser with this tenacious defeat of established, high-quality handicappers, to whom he was conceding weight; forced pace, threatened from 3 out, dug deep under pressure, proved game; he'd clearly been targeted at this race and, in that respect, it wouldn't be wholly surprising if others benefit more from the outing than he does, but his ability and attitude should ensure he continues to be interesting this season, his trainer having few peers when it comes to placing.

ITCHY FEET (FR) was in first-time cheekpieces after 7 months off and went one place better than 12 months earlier, clearly lacking nothing in sharpness; close up, slow seventh, untidy eleventh, shaken up 4 out, rallied between last 2, responded well; he's a smart chaser but, rather like a few in this field, placing him to actually win races isn't especially easy, without a win since his novice season.

MIDNIGHT SHADOW ran a cracker after 8 months off, especially considering he'd needed his reappearance for the previous 2 seasons, and maybe now he can start to deliver on the promise of his novice campaign, still only 8 despite having seemingly been around for a long time; in touch, challenged 3 out, every chance when not fluent next, kept on; he'll surely be worth considering whatever handicap he turns up in next.

FANION D'ESTRUVAL (FR) looked rusty after 7 months off but proved beyond doubt that his ability is still there by the finish, likely to be sharper for the run and more at home back on softer ground; raced off the pace, pushed along after eighth, outpaced soon after, lost touch after 5 out (seemed likely to tail off jumping next), rallied from 2 out, finished well.

NUTS WELL gave his all as usual but it wasn't enough from a career-high mark (4 lb higher than successful in this in 2020), placing him to further advantage this season likely to require plenty of skill; handy, shaken up after 5 out, not quicken straight.

KILLER CLOWN (IRE) had undergone another breathing operation since his previous outing and shaped as if retaining all his ability after 6 months off, though there's a good chance his current mark pretty much sums him up and that'll he find it tough going up against anything remotely progressive; prominent, shaken up after 4 out, one paced after next, no extra between last 2.

HUNTSMAN SON (IRE) probably needed the run after 6 months off, arguably out of his pay grade, too (also said to have finished lame); dropped out, never a threat.

TAMAROC DU MATHAN (FR) disappointed after 6 months off, worth remembering that he'd also done so on his final outing last season; off pace, labouring after 5 out, beaten after next; he's looked a really good prospect on occasions but does have a few questions to answer now.