CATTERICK BRIDGE 14:40 3y83k

All 8 ran. Fences: 24. Race Distance Adjustment: +69 yds

Time: 8m 22.2s Closing Sectional: (3.1f): 46.7s (110.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 116%, Betfair SP 100.5%

This has been contested by a few more up-and-comers in recent years than would be associated with a regional 'National' but this edition fell rather more in line with the norm, and it didn't take marked improvement to see the winner go one better than in the 2019 running in a race that became a surprising test of speed at the trip, the sharp track obviously a factor in the way it developed but a stop-start gallop set by Milansbar another.

LITTLE BRUCE (IRE) fresh from a perfect tune-up over hurdles, produced a career best to go one better than in this race in 2019, no Sharp Response to contend with this time around and ultimately justifying market strength with authority; never far away, edged ahead eighth, headed twentieth, responded to brief moment of becoming outpaced to lead again soon after 2 out, kept on well run-in, went clear; he'll be best campaigned at extreme distances for the rest of the season.

SUMKINDOFKING (IRE) had slipped another 1 lb in the weights and, aided by a relative test of speed over the longer trip, found only one who'd been laid out too good, a season's best in all likelihood; in touch, travelled well, quickened to lead briefly 2 out, rallied, left behind by winner only late on.

CHASE THE WIND (IRE) remains in good form, running the finish out of younger rivals in a higher grade proving just beyond him, some weak veterans' form floating around at present after all; in touch, produced to lead twentieth, kicked on 3 out, headed next, no extra run-in.

MANWELL (IRE) did more to suggest he's finding top form, this sort of trip unlikely to prove his ideal for all he didn't flag half as badly as might have been expected (this nothing like the slog some of these races can prove); dropped out, out wide, still plenty to do 4 out, crept closer early in straight, no further impression.

KINGSWELL THEATRE seems to have lost his way, even a 7-lb conditional with the golden touch unable to revive him; chased leader until early final circuit, ridden from seventeenth, labouring 5 out.

BRIAN BORANHA (IRE) back under less punishing conditions, was in the process of adding another bold showing to his collection in these long-distance handicaps in the North when coming down with the outcome still up in the air; patiently ridden, not always fluent, out wide, good progress before 4 out, shaken up from 2 out but didn't go away (despite the odd weak finish on record) and yet to be fully asked for effort under a length down when falling at the last, rated between the winner and runner-up.

PICKAMIX alarmingly easy to back, ran as the betting predicted, providing a third successive 'P' to his form figures; raced off the pace, not jump well, struggling back straight.

MILANSBAR (IRE) retried in headgear after 7 weeks off, still ran no better than on his return, pulled up on 3 of his last 4 outings now; led until eighteenth, struggling quickly.