PUNCHESTOWN 14:25

All 17 ran. Fences: 13.

Time: 7m 32.1s Closing Sectional: (4.35f): 70s (104.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 136%, Betfair SP 103.6%

A gruelling test despite the omission of several fences, the winner unexposed as a staying chaser and doing extremely well to fend off the runner-up after the pair had pulled clear of one backing up his recent placing in a similarly valuable contest.

FORTUNEDEFORTUNATA (IRE) left his previous chasing efforts behind trying a marathon trip for the first time and is worth marking up to boot, doing well to overcome a momentum-sapping error late on; waited with, travelled well, headway approaching 3 out, jumped on 2 out, headed when clouted last, rallied to lead again final 100 yds; he will stay even further and may have still more to offer.

WILL DO (IRE) wasted no time getting back to form; mid-field, hampered seventh, progress approaching 3 out, close up next, left in front last, headed final 100 yds.

FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU (FR) again ran well; mid-division, not fluent eighth, driven approaching 3 out, progress home turn, chased leaders entering straight, one paced.

SPANISH HARLEM (FR) turned in best effort of the season; raced off the pace, hampered seventh, headway out wide approaching 3 out, close up next, out wide home turn, plugged on; thorough stayer.

KINGS HALO (IRE) shaped as if still in good form, just running out of steam late on; prominent, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last.

CLEATUS POOLAW is very much learning on the job as a chaser and took a step back in the right direction tackling a handicap for the first time in this sphere; raced off the pace, hit seventh, ridden from 2 out, plugged on.

MACS CHARM (IRE) is struggling for form at present, the addition of cheekpieces failing to bring about an upturn; mid-field, bumped 3 out, ridden before next, made little impression.

VELVET ELVIS (IRE) possibly found the race coming too soon after his Thyestes exertions, though consistency certainly isn't one of his strong points; tracked pace, led before end of back straight, headed when not fluent 2 out, ridden home turn, weakened before last.

ASK ANYTHING (IRE) back over fences, wasn't seen to best effect; waited with, not clear run before 3 out, hampered there, never a threat.

KLARC KENT (FR) again finished well held, though was close up until 2 out.

SPHAGNUM (IRE) failed to complete after 11 weeks off; chased leaders, in process of losing place when fell heavily seventh.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN (IRE) an impressive winner of this race last year, produced a laboured effort 12 months on; took little interest, mistake eighth, struggling end of back straight, tailing off when fell 3 out; temperament under suspicion.

STORMY JUDGE (IRE) stumbled and unseated before first.

BEAU WALKING (IRE) hasn't gone on over fences, the manner of his capitulation on handicap chase debut suggesting the markedly longer trip wasn't solely to blame; in touch, folded tamely end of back straight, pulled up 3 out.

ST DENIS'S WELL (IRE) failed to stay the longer trip; mid-field, brief headway end of back straight, weakening when jumped badly right 3 out, pulled up after next.

BUSHMANS PASS (IRE) was sent off favourite but never looked like building on his Thyestes effort, this possibly coming too soon on the back of that return to action; in touch, not always fluent, ridden end of back straight, weakening when not fluent again 2 out, pulled up before last.

MACDERMOTT (FR) shaped better than being pulled up suggests, though was a tired horse when his rider decided to call it a day; led, not always fluent, headed end of back straight, ridden from 2 out, faltered home turn, pulled up before last.