EXETER 14:25

All 6 ran. Fences: 12. Race Distance Adjustment: +42 yds

Time: 4m 19.1s Closing Sectional: (2.2f): 35.8s (90%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 112%, Betfair SP 101.8%

A race traditionally more of a starting point than a staging post of greater significance and readiness again seemed to play a big part behind an admittedly remarkably progressive chaser who was ridden to put the rest under maximum pressure, with only a fellow last-time-out winning handicapper able to even stay within shouting distance in the latter stages as last season's hero and a leading novice of that same campaign were among those to struggle with conditions in failing to perform first time back.

THISTLE ASK (IRE) had more in his favour than being 9 lb out of the weights might have suggested but to focus on him putting such advantages as proven well-being and fitness would do great disservice to the extraordinary strides he's made since joining the stable, as predicted all the more potent back on a right-handed track and excelling himself to the full under the same tactics Skelton had executed to such good effect on Doyen Quest earlier on the card, ensuring fitness and jumping were put under maximum scrutiny; he jumped far more fluently and straight this way around, first quickened at the seventh and had been fully committed by 4 out, at which point all bar fellow recent winning handicapper Saint Segal were in trouble.

SAINT SEGAL (FR) had his winning run ended from another 4 lb higher in a race Thistle Ask ensured he couldn't dominate but his proven fitness on rain-affected going ensured he pulled clear of the rest behind the highly progressive winner; chased leader, lost ground before 5 out, effort again next, closed down leader 2 out, no further impression.

JPR ONE (IRE) lost his blemish-free record first time out that he'd supplemented most recently in this race in 2024, worsening ground in a strongly-run race appearing to find him out first time back from a mark 4 lb higher this time around; patiently ridden, still plenty to do approaching straight, shaken up 4 out, effort flattened out.

KALIF DU BERLAIS (FR) roared into the picture among last season's novices when landing the Maghull when last seen and remains a potentially top-class chaser despite failing to justify shortish odds first time back, from a yard with 8 Haldon Gold Cups to its name but none since 2022 as the focus for the stable has perhaps shifted to later targets, especially for a youngster as promising as Kalif du Berlais; he raced in third, but by the home turn he'd come under pressure and was never likely to respond well enough from there given he's all speed and had seemed so well suited by far less testing ground at Aintree, looked after once his chance had been extinguished.

MARTATOR (FR) seems one of those rare ones from the stable best away from deep ground and probably needed the run for fitness and sharpness this time around as well returning here rather than at Ascot as intended the previous weekend (withdrawn with swelling); raced off the pace, brief headway before halfway, left behind straight.

HERE COMES GEORGIE was out of his depth back chasing for a new yard in a graded handicap (9 lb out of weights), worsening ground against him as well; raced off the pace, mistake eighth, struggling before straight.