EXETER 15:10

All 8 ran. Fences: 18. Race Distance Adjustment: +103 yds

Time: 5m 46.6s Closing Sectional: (2.15f): 33s (91.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 113%, Betfair SP 99.5%

This ended up pretty uncompetitive by handicap standards, particularly as a couple of the fancied runners failed to complete, but at least the 2 who pulled clear are relatively unexposed novices, so the form should still have some merit; the early pace was strong, steadying briefly around halfway.

FACT OF THE MATTER (IRE) has made an encouraging start to his chasing career and showed further improvement upped in trip to resume winning ways; chased leader, jumped well, produced to lead 4 out, kept on well latter stages, always holding on (clearly stays 3m well); unexposed over this sort of trip, so may do even better still.

EASY STREET (IRE) after 12 weeks off, wasted no time getting back on track; waited with, travelled well, good progress home turn, challenged from 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stuck to task well (pulled clear of remainder); should continue to give a good account.

CAULFIELDS VENTURE (IRE) winner of this race last year (off just 1lb lower mark), wasn't disgraced and might have just needed the run after 6 months off (tried in change of headgear); handy, in touch home turn, one paced from early in straight, plugged on.

FOR 'N' AGAINST (IRE) back over fences, again ran below form though probably overdid the front-running tactics; soon well clear, reduced advantage circuit out, mistake 5 out, driven soon after, headed 4 out, faded from next, went off too hard.

SKYLANDER (IRE) back over fences, has been struggling for form in this sphere for a while now and disappointed after 6 weeks off; held up, went in snatches, struggling over circuit out, brief headway back straight, left behind from home turn; difficult to assess at present.

MISS SERIOUS (IRE) was let down by her jumping; dropped out, yet to make her move when fell ninth.

ROCK OF LEON is probably too high in the weights now, but it was a resurfacing of his jumping problems which proved the far bigger handicap here; mid-division, blundered badly second, went handy circuit out, lost place when appalling mistake ninth, behind when swerved and unseated after eleventh.

WIZARDS BRIDGE is potentially thrown-in at present and was well backed, but he disappointed badly again after 6 months off; mid-division, in contention early final circuit, reminders after twelfth, jumped left next, folded tamely from early in straight, pulled up before last; plenty to prove at present.