ASCOT 14:05

All 13 ran. Fences: 17. Race Distance Adjustment: +14 yds

Time: 5m 18s Closing Sectional: (3.8f): 55.6s (103%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 122%, Betfair SP 100.7%

All bar one were making their seasonal reappearance but this looked a most competitive race on paper for all the favourite - who excels when fresh - rendered it rather one-sided from the third last.

YOUR DARLING (IRE) strong in the betting after 8 months off, has an excellent record when fresh and duly added to it with a stylish victory, value for a good deal more on top of the bare margin having put the race to bed on the turn in; prominent, jumped well, travelled strongly, jumped on 5 out, drew clear after 3 out, in command from next, eased final 100 yds; as impressive as he was, he's far from certain to back this up next time.

REVELS HILL (IRE) after 8 months off, proved better than ever from a mark 15 lb higher than when winning the first of a couple of lesser races at Taunton last season, plenty of promise in this run, not least given it's a barely adequate test for him; mid-division, headway 4 out, kept on from 2 out, no impression on winner; he's very much one to be interested in back at 3m+.

FLEGMATIK (FR) back down in trip after 7 months off, proved at least as good as when winning a couple of times at Kempton last season and is likely to pay his way again this time around; waited with, jumped right, headway from 3 out, went second last, kept on, lost second late on.

JANIKA (FR) who'd had a breathing operation since last seen, has been given a chance by the handicapper and shaped encouragingly in first-time cheekpieces after 7 months off, looking well up to winning in similar company this season; raced wide, in touch, jumped well in main, went second 3 out, left behind by winner soon after, faded run-in.

DO YOUR JOB (IRE) shaped similarly to in the Old Roan (form working out well) having had a breathing operation in the interim, his jumping - which was such an asset last season - again letting him down at a crucial stage, not that he was playing for anything more than second place; in touch, not fluent eighth, mistake 3 out, lost momentum, keeping on when not fluent 2 out, effort flattened out.

BELARGUS (FR) is now only 2 lb above his last winning mark but can hardly be said to have shaped well after 8 months off, a drop in grade probably required; in rear, not always fluent, plugged on straight, never on terms.

TAMAROC DU MATHAN (FR) in first-time cheekpieces, didn't see things out, connections indicating he made a respiratory noise; prominent, pressed leader from seventh, pushed along after 3 out, held when awkward next, weakened.

ESPOIR DE GUYE (FR) usually goes well at this track (successful in this race 2 years earlier) but turned in a lacklustre display after 7 months off, his yard yet to get going; waited with, switched outside before twelfth, weakened 3 out.

ELIXIR DE NUTZ (FR) lost his way a little in the spring but shaped as if retaining ability after 8 months off, better than the result suggests and likely to be back near the top of his game next time; led, not fluent fourth, headed 5 out, blundered 3 out, soon beaten.

FOXBORO (GER) proved consistent last season and can probably have this poor effort put down to ring rust after 8 months off, his jumping lacking fluency; in touch, not fluent seventh, reminders, not fluent again eighth, labouring after tenth, struggling when mistake 5 out.

HIGH UP IN THE AIR (FR) is difficult to assess at present, absent a further 11 months prior to this and, as on his sole start last season, ridden in stark contrast to when enjoying a proflic campaign as a novice chaser; held up, jumped left, not fluent first, lost touch before 5 out, pulled up before next; next run should reveal more.

ZHIGULI (IRE) won on reappearance last season but didn't do nearly so well this time, fresh after 9 months off and a mistake as the race was beginning to take shape doing for him, reported to have bled, too; prominent, raced freely, lost place when mistake 5 out, beaten next, pulled up before 2 out.

BOTHWELL BRIDGE (IRE) fared no better after 8 months off and is clearly one with problems; raced wide, held up, jumped left, stumbled approaching first, struggling eleventh, pulled up before 5 out; no longer worth a rating.