NEWBURY 15:35

All 24 ran. Hurdles: 8.

Time: 3m 48.5s Closing Sectional: (4.05f): 58.4s (97.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 137%, Betfair SP 99.7%

A somewhat unsatisfactory running of the most competitive handicap hurdle of the season, another farcical standing start – a protocol that will surely have to be readdressed by the BHA soon – setting the tone as it prevented leading fancy Not So Sleepy from adopting his preferred front-running tactics, while just seconds later Never Adapt – one of just 6 runners sent off at single-figure odds - was pulled up injured, the incidents not stopping there with the challenging Lightly Squeezed falling at the last and wiping out 2 others – Mack The Man and Harambe – who looked set to play some sort of hand in the finish, the resulting form nowhere near as strong as it could have been considering the number of progressive and in-form types that lined up; the gallop was sound and there would have been more hold-up horses involved in the finish without the late casualties.

PIC D'ORHY (FR) arrived in Britain with some strong form to his name - second in a Grade 1 in 2018 - and a lofty reputation, prominent in the ante-post betting for more than one big race, including last season's Triumph (though drifted late), and, despite being notably weak in the market for this, finally - and somewhat inevitably - put it all together for current connections, building on what he'd shown at Ascot, channelling his energy much better over this shorter trip; in touch, went on bridle long way, good progress from 3 out, going well when left second last, rallied to lead late on under a very strong ride (Cobden banned for using the whip 9 times after the last); the margin of victory over the next 5 home means he won't be forced back up in grade next time, though his trainer is already looking forward to going chasing with him next season.

CIEL DE NEIGE (FR) made favourite after 6 weeks off, continues to shape well and has one of these top handicaps in his sights, the fall of Lightly Squeezed meaning he had fewer challengers coming through from the pack but probably not helping him overall as it left him out on his own with nothing on his outside, drifting right over to the near rail as a result; prominent, travelled well, going well when challenged 2 out, left in front last, hung right run-in, not quicken inside final 1f; there's still an element of rawness about him and he remains open to further improvement, one to take very seriously if lining up in next month's Martin Pipe (already proven at Cheltenham).

REMILUC (FR) bounced back to best with reappearance under his belt, some training performance to get him back to where he was in 2018 having missed the best part of 2 years in the interim; chased leader, outpaced 3 out, left in frame last, rallied well entering final 1f, no extra close home.

SIR VALENTINE (GER) improved and shaped really encouragingly after 7 weeks off, not out of the question that he'd have won if more had gone his way in the straight (hurdling still needs work); mid-field, ridden when not fluent 3 out, hit 2 out, hampered last, kept on well; capable of better still.

TAMAROC DU MATHAN (FR) given more of a break (7 weeks), built on the promise of his yard debut this time, looking on a good mark all told; in touch, took time to warm to task, headway after 3 out, forced to switch approaching last, kept on run-in.

ZANZA (IRE) clearly goes well here and, with the hood reapplied, got back on track after 7 weeks off, despite having to delay his challenge and losing a shoe; held up, denied a run home turn, headway under pressure from 3 out, one paced final 1f.

OAKLEY (IRE) ran creditably after 8 weeks off, performing to his rating despite not being seen to best effect; mid-field, not always fluent, shuffled back home turn, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on run-in; likely to be suited by 2½m.

STOLEN SILVER (FR) improved again despite finishing only eighth, this opening mark requiring even more, getting going when it was all over; mid-field, outpaced home turn, held approaching last, kept on run-in; will be suited by 2½m and may get more competitive over that sort of trip (open to further improvement).

NELSON RIVER seemed to excel himself on handicap debut, but this mark looks particularly harsh; prominent, lost ground end of back straight, hit last, one paced.

QUOI DE NEUF (FR) got back on track after 7 weeks off but is perhaps ready for a return to 2½m now; mid-field, outpaced after 3 out, kept on.

ECCO wasn't disgraced but was unable to take another step forward on handicap debut after 6 weeks off, this mark requiring it; in touch, ridden 3 out, hampered last, making no impression at time.

GUMBALL (FR) back under Ben Jones, ran creditably after 8 weeks off, especially as he met traffic on the turn and lost a shoe, but he's handicapped to the hilt now; mid-field, mistake third, shuffled back home turn, headway when awkward 2 out, dropped away after last.

FLEGMATIK (FR) ran well enough after 3 months off, shaping better than the distance beaten suggests; mid-field, ridden when mistake 2 out (possibly inconvenienced by rivals around him), badly hampered last, held (still in mid-field) at time; he's very lightly raced and still has further to explore.

NEFF (GER) wasn't disgraced after 6 weeks off but has been harshly dealt with by the handicapper, plenty of improvement required from this opening mark; soon steadied, not fluent fourth, short of room after 3 out, hampered last, making no impression at time.

NOT SO SLEEPY chasing a £100,000 bonus (for landing this race along with the Ascot handicap he'd dominated last time), can probably have this run - his first for 7 weeks - overlooked, the starter doing him no favours (also lost shoe), though he at least still looked in some sort of form; slowly into stride, raced off the pace, bad mistake third, headway after 3 out, not sustain effort.

WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF (IRE) shaped as if still in good form after 7 weeks off, better than the distance beaten suggests after a couple of significant errors, not the first time his hurdling has failed him; mid-field, clouted 4 out, shaken up home turn and still in with some sort of chance before another mistake 2 out; he isn't badly treated if he can put it all together.

THEBANNERKINGREBEL (IRE) making handicap debut, ran one of this season's lesser races, possibly finding the assignment coming soon enough; in touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened after last.

HIGHLY PRIZED found run of good form coming to a halt after 12 weeks off, though dominating this field was never going to be easy and he may well get back on the up with his sights lowered next time; forced pace, tackled 2 out, weakening when badly hampered last.

MAGIC DANCER in a change of headgear, turned in a rare poor effort but was possibly in need of the outing (missed 8 weeks since Huntingdon); dropped out, held when hampered last.

LIGHTLY SQUEEZE a whopping 17 lb higher than when landing his hat-trick in a far lesser race, didn't look out of place at all, in the process of running well - still in a share of the lead - when departing; handy, challenged 2 out, every chance when fell last, looked sure to play hand in finish; he's progressed rapidly this season and may not be done winning on this evidence.

MACK THE MAN (IRE) has some strong form to his name this season and was running a cracker (around 2 lengths down) when being taken out, this sort of mark surely still a good one, particularly as his hurdling could still be better; slowly into stride, patiently ridden, steady headway back straight, shaken up 3 out, lost some momentum when not fluent next but closing in when brought down last, looking sure to play hand in the finish; very much one to consider next time, provided this nasty incident doesn't leave a mark.

HARAMBE shaped as if still in good form 11 weeks on from his Greatwood victory, a 7 lb rise for winning an ordinary renewal of that contest demanding further improvement, but he was sticking to his task well in the second wave of challengers when his race was ended; held up, shuffled back home turn, good progress after 3 out, keeping on when brought down last, would have run well (particularly considering how much he found for pressure at Cheltenham).

NEVER ADAPT (FR) came in as one of the leading protagonsists, a mare whose new mark probably still underestimates her based on raw ability, but she went lame after the first and was quickly pulled up.

MILL GREEN shaped as if amiss; raced off the pace, slow 4 out, struggling next.