AINTREE 15:25 6v613g

All 9 ran. Fences: 16. Race Distance Adjustment: +53 yds

Time: 4m 57.8s Closing Sectional: (3.15f): 44.6s (104.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 114%, Betfair SP 100.6%

Un de Sceaux was an obvious absentee from this year's Melling but 9 lined up for a very competitive renewal that included 2016 winner God's Own as well as Fox Norton and Sub Lieutenant who arrived on the back of career-best performances at Cheltenham; in a truly-run race it was the latter pair that came to the fore, pulling a long way clear of a couple of very smart chasers who ran their race in third/fourth, giving every reason to take a high view of the form, this one of the performances of the season by the winner.

FOX NORTON (FR) has been a revelation this season, and he progressed a fair bit more to win his first Grade 1 in emphatic fashion, relishing the step up in trip, just as his staying-on second in the Champion Chase had suggested he might; mid-division, travelled powerfully, mistake fifth, smooth headway between 4 out and 3 out, jumped on 2 out, drew clear quickly, eased towards finish and most impressive; a further increase in trip for the King George was suggested as a possibility for next season but, as well as he was suited by this far, he is still possessed with a lot of speed and his stamina for another 4f would be suspect.

SUB LIEUTENANT (IRE) has developed into a top-class chaser this season and deserves the utmost credit for his consistency at a very high level, placed in 3 Grade 1s now since winning the Belfast Chase in November, beaten in them by Sizing John, Un de Sceaux and now the fast-improving Fox Norton; never far away, went with enthusiasm, led ninth, headed 2 out, kept on and gave his all but was no match for the winner; he's likely to go to Punchestown and run another big race.

TRAFFIC FLUIDE (FR) shaped similarly to last time, confirming his return to form without ever truly threatening, and although back up in trip it was the same as at Cheltenham in that he did his best work late ed tired horses; in rear, outpaced 4 out, kept on well from 2 out, took third near finish; he should stay beyond 2½m looking at this.

KYLEMORE LOUGH was back down in trip and returned to form after 10 weeks off, right in the heat of the race throughout, shaping better than Traffic Fluide for all that he was caught by that one near the finish; chased leaders, jumped well and went with zest, close up after 4 out, one paced from 2 out, lost third only late on; this firmer ground wasn't an issue for him but he handles the mud so well that perhaps his best chance of winning a big one will be under more testing conditions.

GOD'S OWN (IRE) has a cracking record overall at the big spring meetings, successful in this race 12 months earlier, but produced a rare below-par effort this time around; held up, not always fluent, headway 3 out, weakening when jumped right last 2.

TOP GAMBLE (IRE) was back up in trip, which was expected to suit, but ran one of his lesser races, perhaps not 100% over his Cheltenham exertions; held up, took closer order ninth, outpaced between 4 out and 3 out, left behind.

JOSSES HILL (IRE) thrived in the autumn but hasn't performed in Grade 1s this spring, here further below form than at Cheltenham; jumped right, led third, headed ninth, weakened after 4 out; he is probably better on a right-handed track, though.

UXIZANDRE (FR) with a visor refitted, and has gone the wrong way since his comeback in January, the problems that kept him off the track possibly telling; early mistakes, led until third, disputed again tenth, folded tamely before 3 out.

ROYAL REGATTA (IRE) clearly wasn't 100% on the day; held up, labouring badly circuit out, pulled up, something not right.