ASCOT 14:30

All 3 ran. Fences: 17. Race Distance Adjustment: +52 yds

Time: 5m 25.4s Closing Sectional: (3.8f): 56.4s (103%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 104%, Betfair SP 101.5%

Only the 3 runners and one of those failed to give his running, but the other 2 provided an exciting finish, the form worth viewing positively, for all that the jumping of the pair could have been better, particularly that of the second; the pace was fair at best.

BENATAR (IRE) maintained his unbeaten record over fences, more comfortable back under patient tactics, though it was by the skin of his teeth that he denied the favourite, who was conceding 5 lb, flaws in his rival's jumping the difference; held up, not always fluent, effort after 4 out, led last, all out to hold on; he's capable of holding his own at a higher level, though the runner-up has more ability.

FINIAN'S OSCAR (IRE) over the longest trip he's tackled and with more positive tactics, wasted no time getting back to form, though his jumping cost him dear, even an adequate round likely to have seen him home comfortably; jumped sketchily, led until second, remained prominent, reminders fifth, pressed leader again twelfth, went on after 3 out, headed last, rallied near finish, just failed; he has the ability to win good races over fences, but his jumping is an obvious concern.

DOLOS (FR) surely can't have been right, for all that he was going up in trip, jumping best of the trio and still seeming to have plenty of running left before capitulating on the home turn; led second, travelled well, headed after 3 out, stopped quickly.