CHEPSTOW 14:50

Non Runners: ICEO MADRIK (FR). Fences: 23. Race Distance Adjustment: +37 yds

Time: 8m 47.4s Closing Sectional: (2.55f): 45.5s (96.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 135%, Betfair SP 103.8%

The presence of 2021 winner Iwilldoit from a BHA mark of 153 pushed almost half the field out of the handicap but weights and measures tend to move down the list of priorities under conditions as demanding as these and a complete revelation, nearly half the age of the top-weight and new to the staying scene, delivered one of the biggest drubbings as is likely to be seen in a big-field handicap of such prestige, Nassalam exceeding even L'Aventure's thirty-length winning margin from earlier in the century as only a handful of the 19 that had set out managed to complete.

NASSALAM (FR) followed the lead of Iwilldoit as well as Secret Reprieve by using a rout in the Trial here as a springboard to success in the big one itself, except in Nassalam's case it was a sight - and performance - well out of the ordinary, highlighting to some tune his rare effectiveness on ground this bad alongside his reinvention as a long-distance chaser after years spent at much shorter; a handy position was no bad thing the way it went, with those held up soon plastered with mud, but he thrashed the others who'd raced up with the gallop in any case and, frankly, it was hard to comprehend what he did after jumping to the front at the eighteenth with most long since legless, continuing to power along and pushing further and further clear of a couple of sluggards, even an error 3 out when in full flow not halting him, already miles ahead when pecking at the last; taken at face value this demolition job from a BHA mark of 145 represents something approaching Grade 1 form but it's hard to believe repeating it wont be reliant on a similarly unusual examination.

IRON BRIDGE (IRE) shaped vastly better than on his return, looking more the chaser he'd threatened to become in his early days as a novice in holding his own for so long - and beating so many - behind a winner transformed, likely to be of interest in other staying handicaps when the ground is testing; in touch, shaken up approaching straight, not quicken 5 out as Nassalam began to surge clear but, to his credit, rallied gradually to edge out the former winner in third.

IWILLDOIT would have needed to be Carvill's Hill to give 8 lb to Nassalam in this form and still emerged with bags of credit from a mark 13 lb higher than for his coming-of-age success in this in 2021, kept fresh since his return over hurdles and the only one able to go with the winner initially in the straight; short of room before first and settled in rear, took closer order circuit out, chased leader before straight, effort 5 out, left behind by winner next, plugged on; he's a credit to connections.

NOT SURE (IRE) had a lot on from equal-farthest out of the handicap yet outlasted plenty with more obvious claims at the weights, suggesting he's still going to be a big factor back in lesser handicaps in the mud; held up, steady headway eighteenth, pushed along straight, no further impression.

COMPLETE UNKNOWN (IRE) failed to stay, lack of stamina compounded by a blunder, though the worst fate of all was to befall him after the race as he collapsed and died; handy, shaken up before straight, third when bad mistake 5 out, dropped away.

DIDERO VALLIS (FR) ran one of his lesser races but so too did many others under extreme conditions, plus he was 12 lb out of the weights; tracked pace out wide, lost place around halfway, behind fourteenth.

DOMAINE DE L'ISLE (FR) pulled up for the third time in as many runs this season, sitting 8 lb out of the weights not excusing him; settled mid-field early, lost place over circuit out, struggling back straight.

MAX DYNAMO rising 14 and 7 lb out of the weights, essentially had his slim chance evaporate thanks to a blunder at the sixth.

BLADE RUNNER (FR) made little appeal for a race like this given his running style, 3 lb out of the handicap and walking through a fence or 2 to boot back chasing; typically raced lazily off pace, effort when mistakes seventeenth, eighteenth, no chance after (lost shoe).

WAYFINDER (IRE) failed to run his race in this for the second year in succession; close up until early final circuit, dropped away quickly.

AMATEUR (IRE) ran himself out returning from 6 months off after going with gusto in front until Nassalam jumped past him at the eighteenth, stopping to a walk entering the straight.

CHARLIE UBERALLES is best excused this, a culture shock (just out of weights) after a hitherto relatively softly-softly start to his career; raced off the pace, pushed along early final circuit, no response, pulled up quickly fifteenth.

SUPER SURVIVOR (IRE) became a rare big-race disappointment so far this season for Gavin Sheehan, not adapting as required to the different environment; mid-division, slow fifth, shaken up over circuit out, struggling seventeenth.

AUTONOMOUS CLOUD (IRE) found the test too much as he had his winning run ended, those preceding successes a much better guide to him than this, though it's concerning he was said to have bled; mid-division, hampered thirteenth, slow eighteenth, soon done with.

ONLY THE BOLD (IRE) managed to shape worse than he had over hurdles the time before, going from close up at the first to behind by the fourth.

TRUCKERS LODGE (IRE) possibly found the race coming too soon after Sandown, having done better in this race on the back of longer breaks in his 4 previous attempts; close up until end of back straight, dropped away.

CHAMBARD (FR) found 3 big efforts in a row beyond him out again just 18 days on from his Becher heroics, a loss of footing after a sizeable move into things helping to empty him; off pace early, rapid headway out wide seventh, upsides when hit thirteenth, slithered on landing, lost place quickly seventeenth.

THE GALLOPING BEAR saw his jumping unravel tried visored after 9 months off (had another breathing operation during absence); in touch early, lost place when hampered after first, behind when mistakes seventh, eighth, pulled up quickly.

THE BIG BREAKAWAY (IRE) ran another trademark race; typically not fluent jumping or travelling, behind soon after start, tailed off under circuit out.