STRATFORD-ON-AVON 14:50

All 9 ran. Fences: 14. Race Distance Adjustment: +97 yds

Time: 4m 48.2s Closing Sectional: (4.75f): 71s (96.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 115%, Betfair SP 101%

Not a bad race for the time of year, with the progressive winner chased home by 2 strong-travelling sorts from in-form yards; the pace was a good one, though very few managed to get into it.

DAYS OF HEAVEN (FR) is thriving at present and, after 8 weeks off, showed further improvement to maintain his unbeaten record over fences; played up beforehand (as if often the case), made all, jumped superbly, went with zest, asserted leaving home turn, always holding on; should continue to give a good account granted a similar emphasis on speed (may prove best at up to 2½m for time being).

YORKIST (IRE) wasted no time getting back on track, running well over a trip which possibly stretches his stamina; mid-division, travelled strongly, crept closer from before halfway, challenged home turn, kept on; likely to continue in form.

ALWAYS ON THE RUN (IRE) strong in the betting, ran well after 12 weeks off and needs no excuses; chased leader, travelled well, shaken up from 4 out, no extra run-in.

MERCERS COURT (IRE) was below form; mid-division, in touch (albeit ridden) when bad mistake 3 out, not recover; type to bounce back quickly (did well at this time of year last season).

IT'S A GIMME (IRE) has been lightly raced of late but hinted at a revival after 10 months off (easy to back); mid-division, not always fluent, travelled well, left behind between 3 out and 2 out, not knocked about; becoming well handicapped on old form and should be sharper for this run.

ONE FOR THE BOSS (IRE) is becoming well handicapped but continues out of sorts; held up, plenty to do circuit out, never on terms.

NO LIKEY (IRE) usually goes well at this track but looked below form after 6 months off; waited with, ridden after 4 out, seemed unlikely to mount a challenge when unseated rider next.

BOBCATBILLY (IRE) looked rusty after 14 months off, though clearly isn't anything like the force of old (struggled in hunters when last seen); dropped out, slow fifth and sixth, outpaced from some way out, never involved.

JOHNNY OG ran no sort of race, which is becoming the norm for him (now pulled up on 4 of last 5 starts); raced wide, chased leader, lost place when reminders circuit out, soon done with.