AYR 15:05

All 13 ran. Fences: 18.

Time: 5m 11.7s Closing Sectional: (2.5f): 36.9s (103%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 116%, Betfair SP 100.1%

Plenty are either high enough in the weights or have had enough for the season, so not a strong race for the money, though there can be no knocking the prolific winner and the efforts of the next 4 home give the form a solid look; the first 2 came from behind, though the pace was fair to all.

PRESENTING JUNIOR (IRE) progressed again to complete a 4-timer, the seventh win overall of a remarkable season, his style of racing meaning the handicapper has found it impossible to keep up; held up, jumped well, headway eighth, in touch twelfth, shaken up before 4 out, led after next, kept on well, driven out; a credit to connections, he's sure to go well again.

FIRTH OF THE CLYDE found this a fair bit easier than the Grand Annual and proved better than ever, probably benefiting from the step back up in trip; dropped out, travelled fluently, headway eleventh, chased leaders leaving back straight, ridden when mistake 2 out, stuck to task; he's been on his game more often than not this season, including when his stable wasn't really firing, so should continue to give a good account.

BRAVE SPARTACUS (IRE) a 3-time winner over hurdles this season, ran well from a much higher mark tackling fences for the first time in 2 years, clearly as good as ever in this sphere; made running, went with zest, headed eleventh, led again 3 out, ridden when headed after next, kept on.

CONQUISTO claimer ridden, ran well on form back over fences for the first time since joining this stable while leaving the impression this mark near enough sums him up nowadays; in touch, effort 3 out, kept on, had every chance.

MWALESHI back under a fully-fledged rider, wasn't disgraced but seemed beaten on merit, no great leeway in his mark; close up, led eleventh, pushed along 4 out, headed next, one paced.

TOO COOL TO FOOL (IRE) back up in trip, was probably flattered from well out of the handicap, never going a yard and passing beaten rivals late on; in rear, went with little fluency, laboured headway from 4 out, stayed on, never involved.

GLENQUEST (IRE) without the headgear this time, was below form; in touch, outpaced twelfth, plodded on, needs emphasis more on stamina (placed in Welsh National this season and recent hurdles wins over shorter trips having come off much lower marks).

DE BOITRON (FR) again ran poorly, his season more or less a write-off; held up, off the bridle long way out, mistake second, never involved.

TAP NIGHT (USA) was well backed in calmer waters but ran poorly and isn't of much interest despite a sliding mark; raced wide, held up, off the bridle long way out, mistake ninth, never involved.

SHADOWS LENGTHEN wasn't in same form as last time; mid-field, not fluent thirteenth, ridden when mistake 5 out, soon beaten.

HOLLOW PENNY ran poorly, jumping mainly to blame; mid-division, lost place when mistakes thirteenth, 5 out, soon beaten.

ASTRACAD (FR) back up in trip, ran okay to a point but had backed out of it when coming to grief late; in touch, mistake fourth, pushed along 4 out, weakened next, beaten when fell last.

ULTIMATE back over fences, offered little; in touch, lost place eighth, never going well after, well beaten 5 out.