WINCANTON 15:30

All 10 ran. Fences: 21. Race Distance Adjustment: +22 yds

Time: 6m 13.3s Closing Sectional: (2.35f): 35.8s (97.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 115%, Betfair SP 101%

A one-sided renewal of this long-standing handicap and there's a strong feeling that it was the perfect storm for the all-the-way winner, who quickly strung the field right out under conditions that made it difficult for those from off the pace, all the more so as a couple of late fallers hindered those trying to make headway.

AL DANCER (FR) seemed better than ever to defy his joint-highest ever mark and enhance a superb record when fresh back from 7 months off, though he was surely seen to maximum effect forcing things under speed-favouring conditions under a rider who increasingly looks excellent value for 7 lb; forced pace, jumped well, went with zest, left clear 4 out, in command straight, driven out; his mark is bound to suffer, and that'll surely make further handicap success hard to come by this season.

LORD ACCORD (IRE) remains in good form and repeated his 2022 placing in this race, though without ever looking like he was going to catch the winner; in touch, not always fluent, left second 4 out, hampered there, kept on, no match for winner.

GUSTAVIAN (IRE) shaped as if retaining lots of ability after 7 months off, an especially encouraging return considering he was 4 lb out of the handicap and got badly hampered by a faller; mid-division, not fluent seventh, headway when hampered sixteenth, lost ground, rallied gradually straight; he's got a poor strike rate as a chaser but has fallen to a very attractive mark and is one to note.

FORWARD PLAN (IRE) shaped as if retaining ability after 7 months off; held up, pecked first, headway sixteenth, hampered 4 out, weakened before last; he was beaten a similar distance in this race last season before winning second time back, though he does embark on this season on a career-high mark.

RISKINTHEGROUND (IRE) shaped as if still in good form and was perhaps running out of stamina by the finish; dropped out, headway sixteenth, ridden when hampered 4 out, weakened after 2 out.

LORD BADDESLEY (IRE) shaped as if needing the run tried tongue tied on first outing since leaving Chris Gordon after 8 months off; dropped out, some headway sixteenth, hampered there, no further impression; there'll be weaker handicaps this this for him to contest.

THE CHANGING MAN (IRE) who'd had a breathing operation and wore a first-time tongue strap after 8 months off, went off towards the top of the betting but failed to complete; in touch, fourth and yet to be asked for effort when fell sixteenth, too far out to suggest how he might've fared, though he certainly starts the season on a good mark.

REMASTERED shaped as if still in good form until departing; pressed leader, still going okay in second when fell 4 out.

MOFASA figured among the least exposed but was always right out the back after 7 months off, having ended the previous season in the same vein.

THE BIG BREAKAWAY (IRE) ran poorly on his first outing since leaving Joe Tizzard after 9 months off, racing right out the back and the first in trouble.