UTTOXETER 15:00

Non Runners: MR INCREDIBLE (IRE). Fences: 25.

Time: 9m 4.7s Closing Sectional: (2.7f): 41.3s (104.6%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 129%, Betfair SP 105.7%

The ground wasn't so bad as it can be for the Midlands National, as supported by the third quickest time for the race in the last decade, though the brisk gallop set by The Two Amigos still put enough pressure on jumping and stamina to ensure only the first 3 still had a chance by the second last after plenty more than that had been grouped together approaching the straight, the trio comprising chasers at different stages in their career in marathon handicaps, a newcomer and veteran of them in second and third respectively behind a winner having only his second crack at such a race.

MAJOR DUNDEE (IRE) produced a career best back at the sort of trip that had seen him do better than all bar a thriving Christian Williams-trained pair in last season's Scottish National, not putting a foot wrong as he made negotiating 25 fences seem all rather routine; jumped soundly waited with, steady headway before 5 out, chased leader 3 out, produced to lead next, threatened briefly flat, found extra; he'll likely have Ayr in his diary again next if over this (treated for heat stress post-race) and will go there better than he was in 2022.

TILE TAPPER improved further following a 6 lb rise for Carlisle, putting in a mammoth effort having found himself last soon after the start, the vast hike in trip proving inspired for all he couldn't get to a winner who'd enjoyed a better run at things and was having only his second go in a marathon handicap; in rear, pushed along briefly early, progress from halfway, closing when hit 3 out, rallied well, chased leader before last and continued to stay on all the while; he, too, would have to be of interest in the Scottish National, though there's a bit more recovery time before the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

NOTACHANCE (IRE) proved he still has plenty to offer at his admittedly reduced level for the second time in his last 3 starts, probably just not a consistently stout finisher these days but almost certainly in the firing line further out than ideal this time, either way shaping much better than the distance beaten might suggest; tracked pace out wide, pressed leader before 5 out, jumped on next, headed 2 out, tied up after taking last only 4 lengths behind runner-up.

GUETAPAN COLLONGES (FR) didn't stay so thoroughly as some but shaped as if still in good form, which had also been the story in the Classic Chase over a less extreme marathon distance; patiently ridden, headway when hit seventeenth, in contention approaching straight, pushed along before 4 out, no further impression.

IWILLDOIT had been given time since Warwick (when well ahead of Guetapan Collonges) but found another Herculean weight-carrying performance in one of these a step too far, a performance of Grade 2-level chaser required to defy a reassessed mark of 155; handy, mistake eighteenth, pushed along straight, weakened from 3 out.

MAX DYNAMO was 9 lb out of the handicap, didn't settle and gave the outside to no one under a patient ride, so that he got into contention before the straight firmly underlined he's come back thriving, something he can prove all the more next time back at a more realistic level.

THE TWO AMIGOS was unable to repeat his Chepstow heroics but almost certainly went off too hard this time 11 weeks on, doing enough to suggest he remains in good heart, not that other options for his type are at all plentiful at this stage of the season; forced pace, jumped well in main, headed 4 out, dropped away.

TRUCKERS LODGE (IRE) did more to highlight his deterioration, faring worse each year in this race since landing it in 2020 (winless since); handy, took keen hold, shaken up briefly back straight, lost ground quickly home turn, no response.

D'JANGO (FR) had no chance from 17 lb out of handicap and was struggling in rear before halfway.

BUSHYPARK (IRE) faced a stiffer task in this grade from 2 lb out of the weights but should have held his own for longer even so; led until first, remained prominent until sixteenth, struggling early final circuit.

SCIPION (IRE) wasn't on a going day in a much more demanding environment; mid-division, lost place when shaken up circuit out, behind quickly, looked none too keen.

TIME TO GET UP (IRE) failed to build on a slightly more encouraging display as he added to a non-entity of a season (pulled up all other 3 outings now); raced off the pace, shaken up soon after fourteenth, not fluent seventeenth, stumbled on landing twentieth, struggling from there.

SECRET REPRIEVE (IRE) found 3 big runs in a row beyond him, fragile after all (off another 10 weeks prior); mid-division, lost ground nineteenth, beaten from next.

CAPTAIN KANGAROO (IRE) won the only time he's completed in a handicap chase but a run of 5 successive failures to do so is a far more pertinent point; soon behind under a change of tactics, typically made mistakes, no chance early final circuit.

FRENCH PARADOXE (FR) shaped much better than the bare result, probably unsuited by the increase in trip above all (finished with heat stress), though it says plenty for his ability that he could even threaten to play a part before the trip seemed to tell considering his jumping buckled under too much pressure in this much more competitive environment; soon behind, jumped sketchily, took closer order early final circuit, in touch briefly twentieth, not sustain effort; he's yet to peak and is well worth another chance under different circumstances despite his tendency to hit a couple.

FLOUEUR (FR) ran even worse back over fences, a sour-looking display (later said to have bled); settled mid-field out wide, lost place halfway, tailed off when carried head awkwardly after fifteenth.

THE GALLOPING BEAR turned in a rare poor effort, almost certainly finding the race coming too soon just 3 weeks after his gallant run behind a handicap blot in the Eider; close up until seventeenth, never going well from next, behind before 5 out.