BANGOR-ON-DEE 14:12

Non Runners: VALLERES (FR), STELLAR STREAM (IRE). Fences: 19. Race Distance Adjustment: +140 yds

Time: 8m 14.7s Closing Sectional: (4.4f): 71.6s (100.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 122%, Betfair SP 100.1%

Not many coped with such a thorough test and a couple of down-in-the-weights veterans who raced at opposite ends of the field came clear to fight it out, the prominently-ridden winner finding extra after it briefly looked as though the runner-up might come all the way through.

LASKALIN (FR) amateur ridden, finally capitalised on a mark in freefall; raced wide, close up, disputed lead after ninth, mistake eleventh, went on after 3 out, tackled approaching last, responded well; the blinkers aren't sure to work so well again but clearly he'll remain well treated on old form.

THE BIG BREAKAWAY (IRE) bounced back to form under an amateur claiming 7 lb, sparked by one or both of a first-time visor and refitted tongue strap; held up, rapid headway 3 out, chased leader next, every chance approaching last, kept on, held flat; he's just as likely to run poorly next time but this shows what he can still do on a going day.

BETTERFOREVERYONE ran creditably even if he didn't go any more sweetly in first-time blinkers; prominent, off the bridle long way out, one paced from home turn.

SCHALKE seemed to find this a shock to the system, over fences for just the second time more than 2 years on from his first try, though he'd done enough by the finish to think the switch to chasing is worth persevering with, lack of stamina not looking an issue; raced well off the pace, bad mistake sixth, headway before 2 out, went fourth last, never a threat.

ROCKINASTORM (IRE) shaped as if still in good form, the longer trip perhaps stretching him; disputed lead until 3 out, faded.

CAERULEUM had winning run ended, from a higher mark in a better race over a longer trip, any one of those a potential reason why he failed to keep up late; mid-division, not fluent 5 out, effort 3 out, made no impression.

FERN HILL (IRE) back in headgear, wasn't in the same form as last time tackling a higher-grade race; mid-division, blundered 4 out, weakened after next.

HAUTE ESTIME (IRE) ran poorly; in rear, beaten after 5 out.

BUSHYPARK (IRE) shaped as if amiss; disputed lead until fourteenth, stopped quickly.

ANIMAL (IRE) again ran poorly; in rear, well beaten after 4 out.

ROUGE DE L'QUEST (IRE) had looked in need of a shorter trip at Exeter but just wasn't in the same form 9 weeks on, maybe not facing a first-time visor considering he failed to go with his usual fluency; mid-division, went in snatches, off pace eighth, well held after 3 out.

POPPA POUTINE (IRE) back in a tongue strap, ran poorly; raced wide, mid-division, ridden before 5 out, soon beaten.

WELL DICK (IRE) added yet another P to erratic form figures; in touch, weakened 4 out.

DUKE OF DECEPTION (IRE) ran poorly; prominent, bad mistake fifth, weakened approaching 3 out.