NEWCASTLE 14:35

All 7 ran. Fences: 18. Race Distance Adjustment: +112 yds

Time: 6m 14.9s Closing Sectional: (2.25f): 40.3s (87.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 111%, Betfair SP 99.8%

the fence after the winning post was omitted

The 3 at the head the betting all looked really interesting runners for this type of handicap but, in the event, only French Paradoxe played his part to the full, his jumping secure this time as he cruised clear from the third last, looking all over a chaser that should be plying his trade in high-end handicaps; the gallop was good from the word go and the emphasis was firmly on stamina under the conditions.

FRENCH PARADOXE (FR) made it 3 wins from his last 3 completed starts, defying a 7 lb rise for Ffos Las with great ease, and, acknowledging his task was made easier by the failure of his 2 main market rivals to give their running, he's destined for somethng better from now on, the valuable 3m novice handicap at Uttoxeter on Midlands National day appealing as a likely next target; prominent, not fluent fifth, left in front eleventh, drew clear from 4 out, in control when steadied into 2 out, eased considerably run-in and value for a winning margin of at least a dozen lengths; he's still to show all he can.

WOWSHAM (IRE) after 5 months off, pretty much matched his hurdles form at the first attempt as a chaser, beaten only by one a long way ahead of his mark, though there was an element of him picking up the pieces; in rear, pushed along from ninth, headway under pressure before 4 out, stayed on, flattered by proximity to winner.

MORNING SPIRIT (IRE) ran creditably without needing excuses; close up, pushed along after twelfth, slow 5 out, one paced straight.

HOUSTON TEXAS (IRE) had his chance back over fences and will probably be of greater interest back in a 0-120; held up, took closer order before 5 out, shaken up before straight, one paced.

OLD PAINLESS (IRE) was upped further in trip and maybe isn't the stayer connections feel him to be, a good jumper and smooth-traveller after all; mid-field, in contention from 5 out, shaken up after next, weakened from 2 out; he'd been creating such a good impression that he's probably worth another chance back faced with less of an emphasis on stamina.

FORTIFIED BAY (IRE) unsurprisingly wasn't in the same form as at Kelso just over a fortnight earlier, 8 lb higher and in a better race, too; forced pace, hit eleventh, headed there, weakened after 5 out.

CASTLE RUSHEN (IRE) almost certainly wouldn't have troubled the easy winner had he completed, but the chances are he'd have finished second given how much he usually finds for pressure, not that his jumping isn't giving some cause for concern; raced off the pace, not always fluent, headway after thirteenth, in a share of third and still finding when unseated rider 4 out.