EXETER 15:40

All 8 ran. Fences: 21. Race Distance Adjustment: +40 yds

Time: 8m 44s Closing Sectional: (2.25f): 40.9s (93.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 115%, Betfair SP 100.2%

A gruelling test and form that won't be the easiest to assess with Mr Vango making most and in control from some way out on just his second race over fences, the other 3 finishers doing so at wide intervals.

MR VANGO (IRE) had promised to do better in this sphere than over hurdles and duly left his chasing debut form behind, clearly well suited by the step up to a marathon trip, though what he actually achieved is open to question as the only one to give his running, interesting to see how the handicapper reacts; soon led, travelled well, headed briefly third, clear when untidy 5 out, hit 3 out, unchallenged; he's unexposed as a staying chaser and holds an entry for the National Hunt Chase, though may need some time to recover from this.

FOXBORO (GER) produced another laboured effort, soon behind and never travelling well, also not jumping with much fluency, though remarkably ended up finishing best of the rest behind the wide-margin winner.

GOLDEN SOVEREIGN (IRE) fared no better in first-time cheekpieces, let down by his jumping in the second half of the race; held up, hampered second, untidy twelfth, blundered next, went second 5 out, jumped right 3 out, beaten when awkward next.

LYRICAL GENIUS (IRE) followed a below-par effort with an even worse one; close up, badly hampered second, edged ahead briefly next, pushed along fifteenth, jumped left 5 out, tailed off before next.

SIDI ISMAEL (FR) was close up when falling at the second.

TRACK AND TRACE (IRE) on more testing ground than previously, was possibly unsuited by such demanding conditions; mid-division, pushed along end of back straight, behind when pulled up before 2 out; he's worth another chance.

ROBYNDZONE (IRE) wasn't in the same form as last time, unable to dominate here; mid-division, hampered second, pushed along sixteenth, behind when untidy 2 out, pulled up.

TAKE YOUR TIME (IRE) fared no better than last time, beaten before the longer trip became a factor; chased leader, hampered second, pecked eighth, reminders after fourteenth, behind when pulled up straight.