CHEPSTOW 14:50

Non Runners: PATS FANCY (IRE), GATS AND CO. Fences: 23. Race Distance Adjustment: +99 yds

Time: 8m 18.6s Closing Sectional: (2.55f): 40.9s (100.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 127%, Betfair SP 102.2%

A couple of non-runners led to a marginally smaller field than average but there was little else of the unfamiliar about this first Welsh Grand National run in front of a crowd since Covid emerged, from a winner who ranked among the many veterans of the marathon chase scene in the lineup, to the high proportion of non-completions in a thorough slog on worsening ground, the 10-y-o by no means the first to be rewarded for a positive ride in this race down the years as he led home a 1-2-3 for horses whose name begins with 'The', only the second time that has happened this century, joining a Sedgefield maiden hurdle won by The Shy Man in May 2007.

THE TWO AMIGOS has improved his finishing position on all 3 cracks at this race and, soon in the sort of rhythm that can prove key in a staying chase around here, capitalised on a mark fully 15 lb lower than when he'd found only Secret Reprieve too strong in the delayed 2020/21 renewal, brought to the boil following his first 2 starts back; he made nearly all, regaining the lead he'd lost 4 out with another assured leap at the second last before pulling out enough to keep the rallying second at bay; this certainly made up for last season, when his trainer confessed to having neglected to enter him.

THE BIG BREAKAWAY (IRE) still has age on his side by the usual standards of a long-distance chaser and did plenty to suggest he'll remain a fixture in similar company, the step up to an extreme trip helping hide his jumping frailties whilst emphasising his bottomless stamina; he jumped well for a change, went handy by the seventh and, having looked set for a perfectly respectable third most of the straight, stuck at it doggedly to claim second on the flat and close down the winner all the way to the line after taking the last 4 lengths down.

THE BIG DOG (IRE) was ahead of his mark (particularly as he effectively escaped a penalty for his Troytown win due to the weights going up at the overnight stage) and proved the point in defeat, underlining this season's progress in shaping as well as the winner for a long way a year after starting twice the price for this race from a mark 6 lb lower, as then held back by a jumping lapse; led early, remained prominent, pressed leader straight, edged ahead 4 out, headed when blundered 2 out, no extra only run-in.

TRUCKERS LODGE (IRE) was much sharper second time back with this presumably his aim all along, though his form figures in this race of 2734 shouldn't disguise the fact he's been beaten a combined margin in excess of 63 lengths across the last 3 attempts; mid-division, travelled well, good progress back straight, threatened home turn, pushed along before 5 out, weakened.

MOVETHECHAINS (IRE) looked rusty after 10 months off and, given the size of the task tackling a race like this over a vastly longer trip than before coming in cold, is well worth another chance to get back on the up; soon behind, pushed along early, headway when short of room on inner early final circuit, faded approaching straight.

WOULDUBEWELL (IRE) again shaped better than the bare result, upped further in trip after her reappearance at Haydock; mid-division, in touch pushed along from eighteenth, dropped away approaching straight.

MUSICAL SLAVE (IRE) found his old jumping weaknesses resurfacing; held up, blundered fourteenth, seventeenth, no chance after.

REGINA DRACONES (IRE) was let down by her jumping, which has been the case more often than not lately, making her a suspect betting vehicle; pressed leader, not fluent, losing place (sharing fifth) when fell fourteenth.

THE GALLOPING BEAR couldn't resume his progress back chasing with a pipe-opener under his belt, first-time cheekpieces not making a discernible difference, though he'd still have done vastly better than most - and probably got into the frame given how tired Truckers Lodge became - had he not crashed out in the straight; tracked pace, lost ground before straight, rallied home turn but 12 lengths behind leader in fifth and not making any more impression when fell 4 out.

D'JANGO (FR) faced another hopeless task from 15 lb out of the handicap and a dreadful display of jumping soon finished him off in any case; mid-division, mistakes first, sixth, seventh, no chance after.

CYCLOP (IRE) found this too competitive at this stage of his career; waited with, already seeming to be losing place when blundered ninth, tailed off when jumped badly right fourteenth.

WAYFINDER (IRE) has gone the wrong way from a winning reappearance; tracked pace, jumped ponderously, never going well from eighth, struggling circuit out.

TIME TO GET UP (IRE) is in better heart than successive pulled-ups to start this season might suggest; mid-division, took closer order before halfway, in contention still end of back straight, weakened home turn.

ASK ME EARLY (IRE) ran no sort of race second time back, as had been the case when he'd started favourite for the last prestigious handicap he tackled (Masters Handicap at Sandown in 2019), the writing on the wall so early he surely had either a physical or temperament issue; soon behind, never going well, laboured headway fifteenth, effort proved short-lived.

FANTASTIKAS (FR) has become disappointing in admittedly tough open handicap company, beaten before his stamina ought to have given way here; close up, lost ground under circuit out, struggling badly sixteenth.

QUICK WAVE (FR) went backwards from her big reappearance effort, which may or may not prove something of an outlier in any case, though this was only the third time she'd made the track since March 2021; settled in rear out wide, hampered fourteenth, slow sixteenth, no response after (lost shoe).

FORTESCUE wasn't on a going day, in first-time cheekpieces but taking little interest in rear and clearly struggling early on the final circuit.