SANDOWN PARK 15:00

Non Runners: O'FAOLAINS BOY (IRE). Fences: 22.

Time: 6m 36.4s Closing Sectional: (2.75f): 43.1s (104.6%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 122%, Betfair SP 100.3%

The best running yet of a race that has quickly established itself in the calendar, 4 of the 14 having won an open handicap on their most recent start, 2 of that quartet taking the placings behind the enigmatic Buywise, still good enough to make the frame in 2 top Cheltenham handicaps last season and down in the weights - clearly the nature of the race urges caution with the view taken of the form but, within that context, there are still grounds for feeling the winner and third in particular will be competitive outside of veterans' events; the race was well run, too much effort required for some, though many of those chasing the leader stayed in contention until the winner swept through late under a ride out of the top drawer.

BUYWISE (IRE) one of the most frustrating horses in training, finally landed the big pot that his ability had always suggested was within his grasp, a first win over fences since April 2014 and a first of any description in nearly 2 years, not required to improve on the best of his efforts last season, having slipped in the weights, the beneficiary too of an exquisite ride in a race set up for him; dropped out, avoided mistakes, travelled well, headway before 4 out, bided his time as leaders pressed on until renewed effort after 3 out, produced to lead well inside final 1f, in command soon after; his old jumping lapses seem to be a thing of the past and a return to the Cheltenham Festival for the 3m handicap or another tilt at the Grand National, if he went up enough for this to get in, would presumably be tempting for connections.

PETE THE FEAT (IRE) made a valiant bid to win this race for the second time, off a mark 6 lb higher than in 2017, in touch, jumped well in main, went with enthusiasm, headway halfway, pushed along seventeenth, led before 2 out, clear approaching last, not fluent there, headed well inside final 1f, not quicken; he's been a fantastic servant for connections, this his 61st and possibly final start, more than a decade after his debut, in that time missing the 2014/15 season after a fall, but otherwise having a full campaign each time, his willing attitude an example to all.

GAS LINE BOY (IRE) remains in good form, not far below the level he reached at Aintree off a mark 6 lb higher, likely to be of interest on a return there in the spring, the ground reportedly likely to make the choice between National and Topham, the thinking perhaps that he didn't quite last home when fifth in last season's National; handy, mistake ninth, pushed along before 3 out, outpaced soon after, mistake 2 out, rallied well run-in, took third on line.

CLOUDY TOO (IRE) revived to an extent, this easily his best run of the season, back in a race in which he'd run well (off a mark 10 lb higher) last season; prominent, travelled well, blundered fourth, every chance 3 out, ridden straight, not quicken between last 2, not fluent last, lost second there and third on line; there will be weaker races for him to run in off this sort of mark.

LOOSE CHIPS ran a cracker, bouncing back to form and matching his effort when third in this race in 2017, as usual going forcefully from the front, if anything just overdoing things slightly; raced clear, jumped boldly, went with zest, awkward briefly round bend past stands (distratced by loose horse), pressed on again 4 out, headed before 2 out, weakened run-in; no reason why he shouldn't run well again now back on song.

HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR) wasn't disgraced, back in veterans' company, though hewas never able to land a blow in a stronger race than the one he'd won here in the autumn; held up, mistake eleventh, seventeenth, labouring after 4 out, stayed on again straight, never on terms.

THEATRICAL STAR runner-up in last season's renewal, was again in contention for a long way but didn't finish his race that well and ended up below form; in touch, chased leaders after halfway, weakened 3 out.

DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) was well held, under more patient tactics than typical, though he shaped as if in better form than the bare result suggests and was spared a hard race; held up, travelled well, steady headway back straight, pushed along after 4 out, made little impression.

BENBENS (IRE) wasn't in the same form as last time, a return to more patient tactics and a shorter trip perhaps factors, though this was a deeper race; in touch, mistake thirteenth, ridden after, left behind after 4 out.

PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE) weak in the market, ran no sort of race, possibly due to the false start, turning in a really moody effort, something he did once before but not since; slow to get into stride, raced indolently, not always fluent, behind all the way, tailed off before 3 out.

FOX APPEAL (IRE) as ever found the fences getting in the way for all this was only the second fall in his career, a year to the day after the first; in rear, mistake fourth, fell twelfth.

VINO GRIEGO (FR) unseated at the first.

NO DUFFER fared no better after 11 weeks off; prominent, mistake twelfth, lost place, labouring back straight, pulled up before 2 out.

THIRD INTENTION (IRE) was in a non-going mood and would have been beaten a long way had he completed; chased leaders until fourth, gradually lost interest, labouring ninth, tailed off when blundered fifteenth, pulled up straight; given his record fresh, he may be worth putting away until the Topham, a race in which he was third in 2016.