AYR 15:35 6p6421

Non Runners: VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE). Fences: 27.

Time: 8m 22.1s Closing Sectional: (2.15f): 35.2s (96.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 127%, Betfair SP 104.1%

This is nearly always the least gruelling of the season's 4 main 'Nationals', and more than half of those to set off managed to complete, though it still took plenty of stamina to see a coming force on the marathon scene wear down a runner-up who'd already had to work to see off stablemate The Ferry Master, completing, amusingly in the current climate of handicapping discussion by nationality, a 1-2-4-5 for the home-trained contingent as the sole Irish raider completed the placings.

MIGHTY THUNDER added a true 'National' to his earlier Edinburgh one as he enhanced a remarkably productive first season over fences, transformed all the more by the move to marathon handicaps and taking another step forward to go one better than in the Midlands version with Scudamore replacing his usual conditional, no test of stamina ever likely to prove beyond him the way he shapes, providing another prestigious spring success for a thoroughly resurgent yard; he went in snatches, though that slightly lazy streak is often no bad thing over extreme distances and, after beavering his way closer a circuit out, he found bundles to edge to the front inside the final 100 yds, having found himself outpaced in fourth for most of the straight; his stable saddled One For Arthur to win the Grand National in 2017 and Mighty Thunder would have to enter calculations if able to maintain this level of form into next year, certainly if the ground is testing, given his bottomless stamina.

DINGO DOLLAR (IRE) has been turned inside out in little time by his new yard, asked a bigger question than at Newcastle 6 weeks on and losing nothing in defeat under a positive ride that had already seen him dig deep to fend off his strong-travelling stable companion before the winner had hit full stride, shaking off that first big challenge from 3 out and giving his all only to be run down on the flat, rallying even then, clearly well suited by the extreme trip; he'd be a formidable opponent in veterans company in the North next season.

MISTER FOGPATCHES (IRE) the only Irish-trained representative, couldn't send another major prize back to his homeland but typically showed his form in hitting the frame yet again (still only one win to his name and none over fences), having no problem with the vastly longer trip; he typically made a few mistakes close up, but he travelled strongly (tanked way to lead for few fences before halfway) and, having been shuffled back briefly in the back straight, was back to looking a big threat on the home turn before the Thomson-trained pair pressed on 4 out and caught him out, rallying after without quite getting back on .

THE FERRY MASTER (IRE) got straight back on the up 9 weeks on from a line-through performance at Haydock, coming up just short for stamina trying this sort of trip for the first time but not before going like the best horse at the weights, shaping like an old hand in competitive races rather than a novice having only his fifth outing over fences, set to be a fixture for a while yet in all the leading staying handicaps in the North; he jumped and travelled really well, put himself bang there with more fluent leaps at the first 4 fences on the final circuit and loomed alongside his stablemate looking the most likely winner on the home turn, but he was unable to master that strong-staying rival when asked 3 out and found himself run out of the placings thereafter; he'll be one to keep on side again in 2021/22.

COOL MIX has been performing with credit all season regardless of circumstances, coming in cold after 4 months off and tackling an entirely different trip but giving his running yet again; in touch, lost place when blundered twenty-first, progress out wide again home turn, stayed on gradually straight.

CHIDSWELL (IRE) found things happening a little too quickly - even over this trip - but wasn't at all disgraced considering lowly pre-race expectations after 7 weeks off, faring far better than on his previous try in this in 2019, when his lengthy losing run began; off pace, outpaced from before halfway, slow nineteenth, ran on late, nearest at the finish.

LAKE VIEW LAD (IRE) showed no ill-effects from his Aintree exit and went as though back in good nick, just found wanting giving weight to some less-exposed sorts under less testing conditions than those he normally faces; waited with, forced wide, took closer order ninth, outpaced before 5 out, rallied from end of back straight, stayed on gradually.

COUP DE PINCEAU (FR) seemed held back by a rise in the weights and grade rather than the longer trip; held up, still plenty to do twenty-first, ridden from next, plugged on straight, made little impression.

CLAUD AND GOLDIE (IRE) has been a tremendous servant and had given his all once more (prominent or in front long way before dropping away straight in first-time cheekpieces) before collapsing and dying after crossing the line.

AYE RIGHT (IRE) is best excused this first blip of a superbly consistent campaign, not seen to best effect with tactics less positive than probably suit him best persevered with; settled mid-field, blundered tenth, shuffled back thirteenth, ridden before 5 out, rallied briefly home turn, not sustain effort.

BIG RIVER (IRE) did a little rather than a lot to stop his slide after 8 weeks off, largely kept to the mud but just missing the frame on firmish ground in this in 2019; soon behind, jumped ponderously, uncomfortable with pace, some headway twenty-second, no further impression.

CHEF D'OEUVRE (FR) faced a stiffer task in this grade of handicap; held up, some headway back straight, effort proved short-lived.

SAM'S ADVENTURE has followed both wins this season with an unseat, presumably saved for this since the Eider but out of it as early as the fourth.

DINO BOY (FR) predictably found his jumping holding him back up in grade (8 lb out of handicap) after 11 weeks off; in touch, clouted thirteenth, lost place when hit nineteenth, rallied briefly twenty-second, beaten from next, said to have finished lame.

ENQARDE (FR) was possibly unsuited by less testing conditions after 9 weeks off, unable to hold a good early position; close up, lost place when slow tenth, nineteenth, struggling soon after.

CHAPEL STILE (IRE) was found out up 6 lb in much better company on less testing going after 8 weeks off; raced off the pace, jumped sketchily, labouring circuit out.

THE HOLLOW GINGE (IRE) possibly failed to stay after 3 months off, either way failing to complete for the fourth time in 5 outings this season; off pace out wide, progress twentieth, driven home turn, tiring when blundered 4 out.

SOME CHAOS (IRE) was let down by his jumping back over fences; settled mid-field, hit third, in touch when blundered twenty-second, struggling quickly.

OLDGRANGEWOOD arrived with major stamina doubts but ran no sort of race in any case; mistakes first, second, hampered fourth, never going well after, pulled up seventeenth.

THE DUTCHMAN (IRE) had undergone a breathing operation but added to a season that's been far more famine than feast; settled in touch out wide, lost place when ridden from twentieth, struggling when now-trademark blunder next.

SOLDIER OF LOVE was beaten by more than lack of fitness or stamina hiked in distance after 5 months off, presumably amiss; pressed leader, upsides third, fourth, went on soon after fourteenth, headed briefly sixteenth, headed again nineteenth, faltered quickly next.

NOTACHANCE (IRE) has been as bad on his last 2 starts of the season (9 weeks apart) as he was good on his first 2; mid-division, took closer order nineteenth, ridden twenty-first, folded, tailed off when pulled up 3 out, lame.