WORCESTER 18:00

All 12 ran. Fences: 16.

Time: 5m 44.8s Closing Sectional: (2.7f): 41.1s (98.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 120%, Betfair SP 101%

A competitive-looking event on paper but it was blown apart by the thriving Courtland, who pulled clear at the end of a well-run race.

COURTLAND (IRE) progressed further still upped in trip; mid-division, good progress home turn, went upsides 3 out, asserted between last 2, forged clear.

GO ON CHEZ ran creditably to be runner-up for the third successive start; patiently ridden, crept closer back straight, challenged between last 2, plugged on.

BRIEF TIMES (IRE) continues in good heart but is seemingly summed up by his mark now; forced pace, went with zest, joined 3 out, left behind by winner between last 2, no extra run-in.

SAINT ARVANS (FR) ran creditably on form but, as at Market Rasen 2 starts back, made hard work of things and may benefit from the refitting of headgear; held up, went in snatches, still plenty to do end of back straight, plugged on.

KILLER CLOWN (IRE) shaped as if back in form over a trip which probably stretches him; in touch, close up from halfway, mistake 4 out, driven soon after, one paced.

ERITAGE (FR) isn't the force of old but his handicap mark reflects that and he offered something to work on reverted to fences over a trip that is probably too far for him; chased leader, every chance home turn, faded from 3 out.

ORGANDI (FR) continues to fall in the weights without showing much sign of taking advantage, never better than mid-field off a mark 5 lb lower than when third in last year's running of the race.

GATS AND CO made no impact from 9 lb out of the handicap under a marked change of tactics; dropped out, tailed off some way out.

THE VOLLAN (IRE) was a prolific winner during the early months of 2022/23 but he ended that campaign under a cloud and continued in a similar vein after 8 months off; mid-division, left behind from end of back straight.

HELL RED (FR) proved easy to back and failed to fire running in a bigger field than usual; handy, not fluent fifth, dropped away from 4 out.

RUTHLESS ARTICLE (IRE) is prone to the odd stinker and turned in a miserable display here; mid-division, reminders before halfway, beaten long way out.

PEREGRINE RUN (IRE) was disappointing even allowing for a mark 9 lb higher mark than when winning the race last year; in touch early, struggling from halfway, beaten some way out.