NEWBURY 15:05

Non Runners: OUR POWER (IRE). Fences: 21. Race Distance Adjustment: +68 yds

Time: 6m 27s Closing Sectional: (3.05f): 45.9s (97.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 124%, Betfair SP 103.5%

One of the feature handicaps of the whole season, under a change of branding rather than a change of sponsor, and it was typically highly competitive, even if lacking an obvious potential Cheltenham Gold Cup horse, a shame that L'Homme Presse wasn't in this field, rather than in the Rehearsal, his stable supplying the top-weight here even so, Fanion d'Estruval one of several who seemed inconvenienced or put off by a standing start, the form of a truly-run race still looking very strong.

LE MILOS had made his return over fences and at a suitable trip, unlike the trio to chase him home, and he proved far enough ahead of his mark to carry a penalty for that win to success, always looking comfortable with the way the race unfolded, though given a hard ride to prevail, his rider heavily fined and picking up a 7-day suspension for his misuse of the whip; in touch, travelled well, headway end of back straight, shaken up home turn, led 3 out, tackled after last, found extra; he's likely to be freshened up after this big effort and aimed at the Grand National, his profile the sort that has tended to be favoured in the race in recent years.

REMASTERED went agonisingly close to gaining compensation for his mishap in this race last season, running his best race over fences, raced on going softer than good previously, but coping well with conditions, a really likeable sort and a good prize in him at some stage, unexposed over long distances, his only try at them in a NH Chase in which he was done for speed in a tactical race; waited with, travelled well, steady headway after sixteenth, chased leaders 3 out, challenged soon after last, kept on well, held only late on.

GERICAULT ROQUE (FR) ran a cracker back over fences, ridden more to the fore than the first 2, that perhaps just telling late on, entered in the Welsh Grand National, though easy to forget that he's still a novice, placed on all 6 starts over fences, including in other top handicaps, like the winner a plausible candidate for a modern-day Grand National; prominent, shaken up end of back straight, every chance 3 out, no extra after last; he'll have no issue going back over further.

CORACH RAMBLER (IRE) as expected stepped up considerably on his reappearance (over an inadequate trip), ending up running creditably, though rather run off his feet leaving the back straight and getting going too late to land a blow, softer ground likely to have helped his cause, though it would be no surprise to see him tried in headgear at some stage, likely to be aimed at the Grand National in the spring; raced off the pace, not fluent sixth, labouring end of back straight, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on, never landed a blow; remains open to improvement under suitable circumstances.

BUSSELTON (FR) one of several who took the eye beforehand, shaped well, plenty to like about his effort again 2 months on from his Kerry National win, any weakening late on more likely due to the use made of him than lack of stamina, building a good record in big-field handicaps, the Paddy Power at Leopardstown perhaps the next option; pressed leader, travelled well, hampered seventh, went on straight, headed 3 out, held when not fluent next, faded late on.

ANNSAM sweated up again but lasted longer than at Ascot, running respectably, his effectiveness at the longer trip not conclusively proven, though his exertions were as likely to blame as lack of stamina for his weakening; led, shaken up straight, headed before 4 out, not quicken next, faded.

FANION D'ESTRUVAL (FR) upped markedly in trip, wasn't disgraced after 8 months off, though he took a long time to get into any sort of rhythm (possibly due to the standing start), still tailed off entering the straight before running past a few beaten rivals, his jumping decidedly rusty; soon well detached, jumped none too fluently for much of the way, kept on after 4 out, nearest at the finish; he's a very smart performer on his day, his next run likely to be a step forward from this effort.

RED HAPPY (FR) having his third race of the month and running from 4 lb out of the weights, never threatened but he ran about as well as could have been expected upped in grade, one of those who needed some effort from the saddle to get going from the standing start; slowly into stride, raced off the pace, headway under pressure back straight, mistake seventeenth, driven after, outpaced before 3 out.

LORD ACCORD (IRE) came into this in good heart, but this was a tougher assignment and he ran below form, this probably just too competitive; prominent, mistake twelfth, weakened after sixteenth.

OSCAR ELITE (IRE) was below form back over fences, his finishing effort again rather tame, his overall record making him a hard one for maximum trust; in touch, shaken up home turn, weakened before 3 out.

LOSTINTRANSLATION (IRE) offered little on his first outing since the Grand National, one of several done no favours by the standing start, needing cajoling to get under way; dwelt, raced off the pace, labouring thirteenth; he's seemingly been blighted by fragility in recent times but still has the option of races confined to fellow veterans.

THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE (IRE) back over fences and in first-time cheekpieces, didn't get very far; prominent, mistake and unseated rider first.

DIABLO DE ROUHET (FR) back over fences, found this all too competitive racing from 4 lb out of the handicap; in rear, labouring after seventeenth, behind when pulled up 2 out.

POTTERMAN in first-time visor, turned in another lacklustre display, pulled up in this for the second year running; held up, not fluent sixth, labouring ninth, pulled up back straight.

FIDDLERONTHEROOF (IRE) was well supported back over fences, in a race in which he was runner-up last season, but he wasn't on a going day, the fitting of cheekpieces possibly having an adverse effect; chased leaders, shaken up early final circuit, lost place thirteenth, tailed off when pulled up 3 out.