CHELTENHAM 13:55

Non Runners: SEBASTOPOL (IRE). Fences: 17. Race Distance Adjustment: +95 yds

Time: 5m 23.3s Closing Sectional: (3.84f): 61.6s (95.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 130%, Betfair SP 101.8%

A cracking renewal of the New Year's Day Handicap Chase, with the field featuring most of the fancied contenders from last month's abandoned December Gold Cup plus a couple of notable last-time-out winners in Brave Seasca and the well-backed Shakem Up'Arry, though it proved yet another valuable handicap pot to go the way of the Skeltons, with Midnight River exploiting the same mark as when an unlucky never-nearer third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here; the pace was sound.

MIDNIGHT RIVER is a likeable type who's enjoying a fine campaign and, ridden a bit closer to the pace than in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, resumed winning ways with a career-best effort - he's not far off graded class now, but the Plate over this C&D still appeals as his best Cheltenham Festival target and he seems sure to figure prominently again there even once reassessed for this; mid-division, smooth headway out wide between 4 out and 3 out, produced to lead 2 out, driven out, proved game.

STOLEN SILVER (FR) got a much better view of his fences with prominent tactics readopted and ran really well on the back of a much more fluent display than last time, shaping as if worth a try over further to boot - Kempton's 3m Coral Trophy at the end of next month appeals as a possible short-term target; made running, joined fifth, took over again 4 out, headed early in straight, outpaced briefly 2 out, rallied well run-in.

NASSALAM (FR) ran well retried in headgear and clearly has a bright future in top-end handicaps, particularly if his yard maintains its current rich vein of form; mid-division, jumped fine, took closer order 4 out, ridden leaving home turn, kept on well late.

IL RIDOTO (FR) shaped similarly to when filling the same position in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here 8 weeks earlier, looking on a competitive mark but ultimately seeming to get stretched by this trip; handy, going well when shuffled back briefly approaching 3 out, recovered quickly to challenge last 2 (bit untidy last), no extra run-in; he might have finished only eighth in last year's Grand Annual, but that shorter-distancex race still appeals as a more suitable Festival handicap target for him than the Plate.

SHAKEM UP'ARRY (IRE) proved strong in the betting and looked very much at home in this company until wilting late, possibly paying the price for making his move earlier than ideal; in touch, travelled/jumped as well as any, every chance from 5 out, upsides 2 out, faded approaching last; he's well worth another chance off this sort of mark.

JACAMAR (GER) fared better than previously this season retried in headgear but ultimately failed to see things out again; patiently ridden, not fluent third, headway when not clear run briefly between 3 out and 2 out, not sustain effort.

DEMACHINE (IRE) wasn't in quite the same form as last time; in touch, awkward sixth, shuffled back around halfway, plugged on latter stages without posing much of a threat.

DEYRANN DE CARJAC (FR) was retried in headgear but found this too competitive from 1 lb out of the handicap and has now failed to reach the frame on all 6 tries in Cheltenham handicaps at around 2½m, never better than mid-division on this occasion, a peck 3 out admittedly not helping.

SIMPLY THE BETTS (IRE) is becoming well handicapped, but he's failed to make much of an impact in 2 large-field events for his new owner-rider, never dangerous after being shuffled back halfway on this occasion.

HAPPYGOLUCKY (IRE) went backwards from his reappearance, though he seemed unsuited by this return to shorter (readily outpaced from 3 out having raced in touch) and is well worth another chance to build on that good Rehearsal Chase third back at around 3m.

BRAVE SEASCA (FR) wasn't seen to best effect given how things panned out here and is well worth another chance to build on his impressive reappearance win at Aintree; dropped out, still plenty to do when not fluent 5 out and 4 out, never landed a blow.

FANTASTIC LADY (FR) found this too competitive and probably needs respite from the handicapper away from her own sex; waited with, brief headway back straight, folded from 3 out.

COCONUT SPLASH (IRE) found this large-field affair a bit of a culture shock and ran no sort of race after 10 weeks off; close up, blundered second, lost touch from early final circuit, beaten some way out.

EDEN DU HOUX (FR) found this too competitive off a career-high mark; prominent, disputed lead from fifth, bad mistake tenth, dropped away approaching 3 out.

LOSTINTRANSLATION (IRE) continues to look a shadow of his former self, both in terms of form and enthusiasm (retried in cheekpieces); missed the break, took little interest in rear thereafter, tailed off when pulled up after eleventh.

WAR LORD (GER) is yet to fire this season, his disappointing display here indicative of a yard enduring another of its lean spells (just 2 wins from 57 runners since beginning of December); mid-division, not fluent eleventh, ridden between 4 out and 3 out, soon done with.