BANGOR-ON-DEE 15:45

Non Runners: TIQUER (FR). Fences: 15.

Time: 5m 33.5s Closing Sectional: (4.45f): 67.65s (107.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 111%, Betfair SP 98%

A weakish handicap for the grade, featuring more below-par efforts than good ones, and it's doubtful the winner needed to show himself particularly well treated; the pace was steady and only the runner-up made notable progress from behind.

MEZENDORE (IRE) one of the least exposed in the field, was the bigger-priced of his stable's pair but showed improved form to get off the mark on first outing since leaving W. J. Burke after 9 weeks off, suited by a front-running ride in first-time blinkers; disputed lead, jumped soundly, went on tenth, effort 3 out, joined next, kept going well; this looks ordinary form but he shouldn't go up much and is still very low-mileage, not least for this yard.

TARA ROAD back down in trip, stopped the rot after 8 weeks off, faring best of those that tried to come from behind against his winning stable-companion; held up, headway 4 out, pushed along after next, challenged straight, no extra flat; his all-or-nothing profile suggests he may not build on this, though there's no question he's potentially well treated.

RUSSBOROUGH (FR) ran creditably after 4 months off, though it wasn't an entirely pleasing effort, not least jumping-wise; chased leaders, made mistakes, outpaced 4 out, not fluent next, last, plugged on, took third flat; remains to be seen if able to back this up.

I AM COLIN wasn't disgraced in first-time cheekpieces, perhaps just undone by a weights rise having gone up a hefty chunk for winning a weak race at Leicester; in touch, shaken up ninth, challenged 3 out, every chance next, no extra before last.

LITTLE JIMMY wins plenty but has 2 ways of running and wasn't on a going day; in rear, jumped left, mistake third, made no impression.

FEAR GLIC (IRE) seemingly hard to train, shaped as if needing run after another 3 months off; disputed lead, pushed along 4 out, weakened after next; he's surely due some help from the handicapper and isn't one to give up on as a chaser just yet, perhaps the sort to make an impact faced with less testing conditions in the spring/summer.

HUGHESIE (IRE) easy to back, shaped similarly to last time and it's hard to have much confidence in him right now, though he's not one to give up on, especially if the market signs are more positive in the future; mid-division, lost place early final circuit, beaten 4 out.

SUPREME ASSET (IRE) merely underlined inconsistency; held up, beaten 4 out.