SOUTHWELL 12:22

All 10 ran. Race Distance Adjustment: +1 f 37 yds

Time: 5m 27.1s Closing Sectional: (2.3f): 34.2s (102%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 120%, Betfair SP 97.7%

An interesting handicap on a few fronts; a strong gallop set by the runner-up soon had the field strung out and it's surely worth taking a positive view of what the gambled-on winner achieved on his first start for a new yard, but at the same time there were plainly several others that were sent here with other days in mind, chiefly the trio from the Skelton stable who were all pulled up.

MARGARET'S LEGACY (FR) landed a gamble on first outing since leaving Tim Vaughan, in first-time hood after 11 months off; led-in at start, prominent main group, clouted 4 out, good progress approaching next, led between last 2, drew clear, ridden out.

BAD (FR) still hasn't won for his current yard but looked ahead of his mark for the most part with front-running tactics readopted, surely good enough to end his frustrating sequence if he can hold it together for a while longer and he's not aimed too highly; forced pace, reduced advantage when hit 2 out, headed between last 2, left behind by winner.

EATON COLLINA (IRE) shaped as if still in good form, in the end paying to some extent for chasing the strong pace; chased leader, shaken up approaching straight, no extra from 2 out.

WILLIAM CODY had bossed a small-field handicap at Huntingdon and found this much tougher from a 6 lb higher mark, though there's a good chance he'll be able to bounce back in a less competitive affair; prominent main group, shaken up home turn, made no impression.

KAYCE DUTTON (IRE) sent chasing, again finished well held, hard to know what he's capable of at the minute; in rear, untidy first, shaken up after twelfth, never on terms.

NO RISK DES FLOS (FR) had no L'Eau du Sud in the field this time but didn't get very far; mid-field, hit third, blundered and unseated rider fifth.

ZAIDI (FR) sent chasing, offered little on first outing since leaving Gordon Elliott after 12 months off; struggled with pace, labouring long way out.

SALAMANCA BAY (IRE) had no confidence behind him in the market and was almost certainly here on a fact-finding mission on first outing since leaving Lucinda Russell after 7 months off, tried in a tongue strap (had undergone breathing operation) and racing beyond the minimum trip for the first time; led-in at start, dropped out, blundered ninth, pushed along after 4 out, no response; he's the type his new yard will do well with, probably once back around the minimum trip and with front-running tactics readopted.

REAL STONE returned from 9 months off over an unsuitable trip and doesn't have a great record fresh, either, not given anything like a hard race and a good chance he'll be a different model back around the minimum trip with this behind him; held up, travelled comfortably enough for a long way, left behind from 4 out, pulled up before next.

BENNYS KING (IRE) again went without cheekpieces and, though again not really showing anything, connections have probably got half an eye on getting his mark down; in touch, lost place over circuit out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out; amazingly, he's failed to complete in his last 7 handicaps, the last time he did manage to get around in such company being all the way back in Jan 2021.