HEREFORD 15:30

All 11 ran. Fences: 19.

Time: 7m 8.6s Closing Sectional: (3.55f): 65.1s (92.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 115%, Betfair SP 100%

Just 3 finished this gruelling staying handicap chase, the Kerry Lee-trained pair that came to the fore clear with Federici - who was legless in third when refusing at the last - from some way out.

GOODTOKNOW showed with an excellent second in the Classic Chase that he's back thriving and went one better from just 1 lb higher in this less competitive affair; never far away, travelled best, went second 5 out, led 3 out, ridden between last 2, kept going well; the Grand National is the target providing he goes up enough in the weights to get in, although if he does go up enough it's unlikely he'll remain ahead of his mark.

MOUNTAINOUS (IRE) has been given a chance by the handicapper, just 1 lb above last season's Welsh National win now, also partnered by a good-value 7lb amateur here, and he returned to form, beaten only by his thriving stablemate; chased leaders, went in snatches and lost place sixth, went prominent again tenth, chased leader after 3 out, stuck to task but never quite able to challenge winner; he should remain competitive under similar conditions.

STREETS OF PROMISE (IRE) should strip fitter for the run after 10 months off but starts the season on a stiff-looking mark after improving so much last term (3 wins); soon led, headed tenth, lost second 5 out, weakened next, tailed off.

FEDERICI shaped as if still in good form, the only one that could stay with the first 2 from a long way out, going enthusiastically close up and leading from the tenth until 3 out, folding once headed though and very tired when refusing at the last, nothing to do with his attitude.

FLASHJACK (IRE) ran poorly in first-time cheekpieces; held up, made mistakes, behind when pulled up fourteenth.

BELMOUNT (IRE) has possibly gone off the boil having been on the go for quite a long time now; mid-division, struggling after eleventh, pulled up before fourteenth.

RACING PULSE (IRE) failed to build on the minor promise of his last run, disappointing considering he shouldn't have had any problem with conditions; held up, effort eleventh, struggling after next, pulled up before fifteenth; he's hard to catch right but can't be totally dismissed as mark continues to slide.

WHAT A MOMENT (IRE) who was in first-time cheekpieces, seemed unable to handle such testing conditions; mid-division, tracked pace seventh, tied up before 5 out, behind when pulled up before 4 out.

WALDORF SALAD ran no better than on return; chased leaders, labouring after ninth, behind eleventh, pulled up before thirteenth.

AACHEN continues out of sorts; in touch, lost place tenth, behind when pulled up before fourteenth.

FIREBIRD FLYER (IRE) ran badly; in rear, jumped none too fluently, early reminders, pulled up before eighth; something to prove at present.