UTTOXETER 15:35

All 20 ran. Fences: 25.

Time: 9m 3.4s Closing Sectional: (2.60f): 42.70s (97.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 126%, Betfair SP 101.4%

A full field of 20, yet a world apart from the typical Midlands National, the gallop a steady one and only a handful out of contention by the time they turned turned in to face the fourth last, Mighty Thunder the first to strike for home, caught only late by a lightly-raced, well-handicapped one who looks set to be of major interest for other big staying handicaps on this evidence; the form in behind is potentially a bit misrepresentative on several, both Screaming Colours and Achille better than the result from well out the back for starters.

TIME TO GET UP (IRE) upped markedly in trip, followed up his Wincanton win (form working out pretty well) in the style of one still well ahead of his mark, such was the way he overcame the unusually steady gallop for a valuable big-field handicap; waited with, hampered slightly eleventh, not clear run home turn, closing and still going well when untidy 3 out allowing Mighty Thunder to get away slightly, stayed on to lead final 50 yds, conceded first run; he's got very few miles on the clock for one his age, likely there's a good bit more still to come, and a campaign centred around the Grand National could be on the cards next season.

MIGHTY THUNDER proved better than ever for the second start in a row, extending a fine first season over fences, well ridden to take advantage of the steady pace and caught only close home by one potentially a long way ahead of his mark; mid-division, chased leaders nineteenth, produced to lead 4 out, quickened clear next, collared final 50 yds, got first run.

FINAL NUDGE (IRE) has been around for a long time (was a close third when falling 4 out in this race in 2017), but he's still sprightly and closed the gap on Time To Get Up from Wincanton, despite meeting lots of traffic, still races to be won with him at his age; mid-division, travelled well, no room approaching home turn, headway 3 out, switched approaching next, stayed on.

SCREAMING COLOURS (IRE) has eked out gradual improvement all along this season and continued that trend here, despite finding the step up to a marathon trip negated by a steady pace that left him at quite a major disadvantage; patiently ridden, took time to warm to task, mistake nineteenth, headway out wide 5 out, stayed on gradually.

HIGHLAND HUNTER (IRE) again ran well tackling a whole mile further than previously, encountering a big field for the first time over fences no concern; tracked pace, effort 4 out, went second next, no extra only late on.

ACHILLE (FR) is holding his form really well given the races he runs in, not seen to best effect on this occasion, either, a poor position compounded by a lack of urgency from the saddle; patiently ridden, untidy twentieth, off pace still 4 out, stayed on latter stages, left with too much to do.

TRUCKERS LODGE (IRE) 12 lb higher than when winning this race last year, bounced back to form after 10 weeks off; disputed lead until eleventh, remained prominent, lost ground 5 out, one paced.

THE TWO AMIGOS who attracted support, is a really likeable horse and ran another honest race in a big staying handicap, his consistency meaning there's just no wiggle room from his mark; tanked along, disputed lead until 4 out, not quicken approaching 2 out, not fluent last 2.

RAMSES DE TEILLEE (FR) wasn't at all disgraced, particularly as the relative dash was hardly ideal for a thorough stayer like him; tracked pace, steadied into fifteenth, every chance entering straight, not fluent 4 out, untidy next, not quicken.

COO STAR SIVOLA (FR) shaped as if still in good form, ultimately seeming to find this markedly longer trip a bit too far having got into contention easier than most of those from off the pace; soon steadied, not always fluent, headway twentieth, faded only late on.

TRUCKIN AWAY (IRE) upped markedly in trip after 11 weeks off, probably remains in form, not seen to best effect from off the pace in a race in which they went steadily; held up, not always fluent, hit 5 out, off pace still next, merely plugged on.

REGAL ENCORE (IRE) claimer ridden, wasn't at his best away from his beloved Ascot; raced wide, in touch, untidy fourteenth, lost ground twentieth, faded from 4 out.

CAPTAIN DRAKE (IRE) who was second in this last year, underperformed 10 weeks on from a good run in the Welsh version; chased leaders, not fluent sixth, lost place 5 out, soon done with.

GOLAN FORTUNE (IRE) back under a fully-fledged rider/in a visor, was never involved upped markedly in trip but the run is best ignored; slowly into stride, raced well off the pace, mistake seventeenth, no threat from 5 out, left poorly placed.

PRIME VENTURE (IRE) didn't jump as well back under this conditional after 10 weeks off; mid-field, hit eighth, lost ground next, not fluent eighteenth, beaten 4 out.

DOING FINE (IRE) wasn't well positioned returning from 4 months off, while he might well have other options on his spring agenda (has won/run well in several big handicaps at similar time of year in the past); raced well off the pace, untidy eighth, slow thirteenth, pushed along eighteenth, labouring 5 out.

SPRINGFIELD FOX failed to build on the promise of his last run, his season looking most disappointing at present; close up, not always fluent, disputed lead from eleventh, lost ground home turn, behind when pulled up 2 out.

TOMMY RAPPER (IRE) didn't quite get home hiked massively in trip, a shoddy round of jumping admittedly not helping; mid-division, made mistakes, not clear run home turn, effort 4 out, weakening when pulled up last.

CALETT MAD (FR) fared no better than on his return after a further 4 months off, his jumping letting him down in the second half of the race; mid-field, mistakes from fifteenth, lost place soon after, dropped away 5 out, pulled up next.

ACTING LASS (IRE) upped markedly in trip and in first-time blinkers, might have been amiss so badly did he jump after 8 weeks off, belting the second before losing a handy pitch when clouting the third and pulled up soon after he'd dropped right to the back at the fifth; clearly has plenty to prove.