SANDOWN PARK 15:35

All 20 ran. Fences: 24.

Time: 7m 34.9s Closing Sectional: (2.75f): 41.6s (104.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 131%, Betfair SP 101%

Novices have dominated valuable staying handicaps during the closing weeks of 2023/24, landing the 2 such pots at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals plus the Irish and Scottish Grand Nationals, so it was no surprise to see another one come out on top in Sandown's final day showpiece; there was also a certain inevitably about the all-conquering Willie Mullins supplying the winner as well, his first and third place here rubber-stamping a landmark first British trainers' championship title, the fact that this year's Great Yorkshire Chase winner and a well-handicapped veteran completed the frame giving a strong look to the form.

MINELLA COCOONER (IRE) is clearly getting the hang of chasing now and became the seventh Irish-trained winner in this race's 67-year history, looking very much at home under these less testing conditions as he went 2 places better than at Fairyhouse, showing the blend of tactical speed and stamina which tends to play well in the Grand National itself nowadays - as a result, Aintree appeals as the obvious long-term target for him next season; patiently ridden, travelled smoothly, crept closer from early final circuit, good progress out wide between 3 out and 2 out, stayed on to lead soon after last, proved game.

ANNUAL INVICTUS (IRE) wasted no time getting back to form after his luckless Cheltenham run, narrowly failing to land a second lucrative pot of 2023/24 after another generous front-running display - he's clearly a much more straightforward customer nowadays; made most, jumped soundly, pressed on some way out, headed soon after last, rallied.

NICK ROCKETT (IRE) got back on the up under these less testing conditions and coped fine with the trip as well, though the fact he again finished behind Minella Cocooner despite being in receipt of 4 lb this time suggests he isn't quite so high in the Closutton pecking order as his lofty home reputation might suggest; mid-division, not always fluent (bit slow rather than mistakes), shuffled back before halfway, headway between 4 out and 3 out, kept on well from 2 out.

CERTAINLY RED is ending the season on a high and ran well in first-time cheekpieces; in touch, took closer order back straight, upsides 3 out and 2 out, kept on; it bears repeating that he'll be a surefire winner of a veterans' event next autumn off this sort of mark.

AMIRITE (IRE) was prominent in the betting yet again and ran creditably after 4 months off, though he had no excuses this time; mid-division, awkward first (fluent otherwise), challenged going well leaving home turn, plugged on.

SAM BROWN continues in good heart but could never land a meaningful challenge this time despite the return to further; patiently ridden, off the bridle before most, not clear run more than once final circuit, stayed on strongly late and nearest at the finish.

LE MILOS looked on an attractive mark reverted to fences and shaped accordingly for much of the way but, as in the Pertemps Final, didn't see his race out so well as expected; in touch from early travelling better than most, still going well when untidy 4 out, weakened from 2 out (disputing third there).

AIME DESJY (FR) shaped similarly to last time, running respectably on form upped in trip without carrying much of a win threat; patiently ridden, headway out wide back straight, one paced from home turn (again forced wide there).

KITTY'S LIGHT probably remains in form, a couple of uncharacteristic jumping errors preventing him adding to his fine record in this race (won in 2023 and placed in previous 2 renewals); mid-division, mistake seventeenth, keeping on (albeit still outside of frame at time) when blundered again 2 out, not recover.

ENRILO (FR) isn't the force of old and found this too competitive despite a 9 lb lower mark than when first past the post in the 2021 renewal; mid-division, went handy halfway, one paced from home turn.

KINONDO KWETU failed to build upon his recent comeback run at Aintree on this rare venture down South, making little impact under a typically patient ride, a peck at the fourteenth admittedly not helping.

WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT (IRE) has had an underwhelming first season over fences after an encouraging start, turning in a lacklustre display kept to valuable handicap company here; waited with, went in snatches, never landed a blow.

THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE (IRE) looks too high in the weights now but was below form all the same (very easy to back); prominent, mistake nineteenth, brushed aside between 4 out and 3 out.

SLIPWAY (IRE) was in a much hotter race than last time, though there is no escaping the fact that he's more miss than hit nowadays; dropped out, awkward first, some headway around halfway, in touch but already ridden when mistake 3 out, no threat after.

BANGERS AND CASH (IRE) found this too competitive but also wasn't helped by a couple of early setbacks, beaten some way out having been slowly into stride and then made a bad mistake at the second.

FORTESCUE made no impact back in non-veterans company; mid-division, off the bridle before most, lost touch some way out.

RAPPER isn't the most consistent nowadays and produced one of his lesser efforts; in touch, dropped away from 5 out.

COURTLAND (IRE) is probably too high in the weights after last summer's winning spree but, even so, doesn't seem to have returned in much form since a winter break; soon behind, not always fluent, went in snatches and beaten before stamina was a factor at this longer trip.

FLASH COLLONGES (FR) has gone the wrong way, taking little interest after a bad mistake at the first here and tailed off early.

DOES HE KNOW might have plenty of wins on his record, but he's looked on a temperament tightrope for a while now and failed miserably to repeat his Doncaster form despite the headgear being retained; handy, slow first, lost place when blundered sixteenth, carried head awkwardly and soon done with.