HUNTINGDON 15:00

All 5 ran. Fences: 16.

Time: 5m 3.6s Closing Sectional: (5.05f): 78.9s (97.8%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 111%, Betfair SP 102.6%

Conditions were an issue for a couple and the Mullins-trained raider fluffed his lines completely but it was still a complete performance by Djelo in taking advantage of the gilt-edged opportunity as he made it back-to-back wins in this long-running Grade 2.

DJELO (FR) has achieved plenty in his time chasing, adding a second consecutive Peterborough Chase to prior big-race successes in the Charlie Hall and last season's Denman, though he's still a relative youth by the standards of leading staying chasers and may yet have his day at the top level, his unerringly accurate jumping a weapon that none of these could live with and something that will continue to put other good horses under pressure, especially on ground like this; he responded well to a change of tactics, leading outright at the sixth, drawing clear gradually after his most spectacular leap 3 out, his rider not having to ask him for much of an effort at all even as Edwardstone plugged away in his wake.

EDWARDSTONE shaped better than in the Shloer on his comeback, tackling this trip for only the second time over fences and appearing to stay it after settling perfectly well, though it still didn't prompt a return to a top-class peak that looks a thing of the past by now; soon steadied, crept closer after 3 out, headway under pressure home turn, took second 2 out, kept on gradually.

HITMAN (FR) is better judged on his Old Roan performance when conditions were far more suitable but that isn't to suggest for a second that his Aintree win signalled the turning over of a new leaf, his poor strike-rate still there for all to see; in touch, pushed along end of back straight, tied up from 2 out and finished tired.

BOOMBAWN (IRE) was unsuited by conditions but will remain tough to place even on more suitable ground given his no man's land status between handicaps and anything remotely competitive in graded company; in touch, chased leader from circuit out, pushed along before straight, weakened 2 out, finished tired.

SAINT SAM (FR) had spells in the betting where he wasn't much bigger than standard-setting Djelo but returned with a lifeless effort on a rare below-par raiding day for his all-conquering stable, taken on in front by the favourite and perhaps discouraged by it; disputed lead until sixth, lost place when untidy eighth, behind when mistakes from there, pulled up back straight.