KELSO 15:35

All 6 ran. Fences: 16.

Time: 6m 12.3s Closing Sectional: (4.1f): 65.9s (107.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 110%, Betfair SP 100.7%

A couple of the market leaders didn't jump well enough but the lightly-raced winner had enough about him to overcome an error of his own and the one who gave him most to think about is building a solid record over fences himself; the pace wasn't nearly strong enough to prevent them approaching 3 out still well bunched.

MILCREE (IRE) progressed as expected from his chasing debut following a sensible 6-week break to take his record to 2-2, making up for lost time now and showing a different side to his game as he had to battle for it back up in trip, especially encouraging considering his past issues; in touch, closing when mistake 3 out, shaken up straight, edged ahead on landing last, edged left run-in and hampered second (Quinlan picked up 4-day ban for careless riding), driven clear; he's got races like the Peter Marsh written all over him for next season.

YOUNG JACK (IRE) has been unlucky to bump into the rivals he has across his trio of close seconds so far over fences and can surely land a race before long, fitted with cheekpieces this time but again doing nothing wrong; chased leader, edged ahead 5 out, shaken up straight, headed on landing last, still finding when snatched up and forced to switch run-in.

MOON PHASES (IRE) is well worth another chance from a mark only 3 lb higher than for his Newcastle breakthrough, not well placed the way it went in a higher-grade handicap than he need contest; waited with, bad mistake 2 out, ridden when hung left before last, no further impression; he should stay this far.

JOECOOKER (FR) possibly failed to stay the longer trip even in a falsely-run race, either way again shaping better than the bare result; waited with, crept closer 2 out, effort flattened out.

I AM MAX (IRE) has essentially gone the wrong way since his winning chasing debut over Hexham's easy fences, his jumping reverting to type this time on his first run of 2026; in touch out wide, lost place when mistakes fourth, fifth, behind when mistake again 3 out.

QUEENSBURY BOY (IRE) had seen his Windsor form franked by King of Answers only to produce a display so wayward he'd have needed to be exceptionally well handicapped to overcome it; jumped markedly right, led until 5 out, rallied entering straight, understandably tied up approaching last (where went even more blatantly that way).