CHELTENHAM 15:35

All 9 ran. Fences: 13. Race Distance Adjustment: +24 yds

Time: 3m 54.4s Closing Sectional: (3.75f): 54.7s (100.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 116%, Betfair SP 98.2%

A free-going quartet broke this race apart but, as so often around here on undemanding ground, making inroads on them proved hard work for a larger group that, with the exception of Brookie, had been taken too far out of their comfort zone from a good way out to have a say.

CALICO (GER) repeated the dose from 2024 by landing this race first time back from a break, clearly at least as good as ever in defying a mark 4 lb higher but evidently primed for a day that saw him hold other advantages, chiefly mistakes before halfway removing old rival Matata as a more persistent nuisance; pressed leader, jumped accurately, led briefly third, jumped on again sixth when Matata slow, quickened entering straight, clear run-in; he failed to add to his success in this last season but signed off with a fine second in the Red Rum when conditions were also right up his street.

JASKO DES DAMES (FR) is progressing into a very useful second-season chaser, more than holding his own in filling the same position as at Listowel in this higher-calibre handicap; close up, chased leader before straight, left behind by winner from last but did enough to keep Brookie at bay.

BROOKIE (IRE) made great strides as a novice and can be placed to further advantage this time around judged on this encouraging comeback that saw him do easily best of those settled off the pace, testament to his improvement that he could shape so well from a mark 19 lb higher than when last contesting a handicap; waited with, crept closer from 3 out, stayed on from next, closed down second final 100 yds; he's sure to be all the sharper for this and, usually a stout finisher at this sort of trip, he's still got 2½m to explore as well.

TRAPRAIN LAW (FR) was very much on his toes beforehand but did enough to confirm he's returned in good nick, managing to hang around having been knocked out of rhythm early pitched back into a hotter handicap (3 lb out of weights); led until mistake second, remained prominent until 4 out, outpaced soon after next, rallied gradually straight.

UNEXPECTED PARTY (FR) isn't the first handicapper from his yard this autumn to have caught the eye, to the extent this time that the stewards held a running and riding inquiry that led to a 10-day ban for his 7-lb conditional "for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure his horse was run on its merits"; steadied at the start, still plenty to do 3 out, late headway, finished with running left under tender handling; presumably his campaign will again be geared around the spring (first and second in last 2 editions of Grand Annual here).

DR T J ECKLEBURG (IRE) should strip fitter for this first run of the autumn, his task a stiff one from 5 lb out of the handicap, especially away from his optimum (testing) ground; in rear, outpaced 3 out, made no impression.

MATATA (IRE) had one of his off-days jumping-wise as he suffered what has to go down as a rare blip, especially around here (runner-up to Calico in this in 2024 before taking advantage of late faller at November meeting); pressed leader, jumped on second, headed when bad mistake third, led again soon after next, headed when slow sixth, faltered approaching straight.

THIRD TIME LUCKI (IRE) arrived seeking a hat-trick following a pair of early-season wins but met a sad end, still in touch when breaking down on landing at the water.

UNCLE PHIL (IRE) is a flaky sort best when able to dominate and looked in need of the run on his first outing since leaving W. P. Mullins after 11 months off; raced off the pace, struggling when clouted 3 out.