CHEPSTOW 15:25 5p4r40

All 7 ran. Fences: 12. Race Distance Adjustment: +9 yds

Time: 5m 33.9s Closing Sectional: (2.55f): 48.6s (89.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 114%, Betfair SP 99.8%

Only Otago Trail really handled what were desperate conditions by this stage of the afternoon and it's hard to rate the form confidently, but it was certainly a smart performance to defy a mark in the 140s and jump/travel with the exuberance he did throughout.

OTAGO TRAIL (IRE) had optimum conditions, a real mudlark it seems, and although he was up against several that didn't handle them it's hard to argue with the progress he's making over fences, this a smart performance under top weight; led until second, led again fourth, always tanking along and jumping well, drew clear after 3 out, eased late on; he's open to further improvement, and may even have a graded novice in him on similarly bottomless ground.

SAINT RAPH (FR) was beaten a long way, but still came out second best in a gruelling race and shaped as if still in good heart; prominent, went on second, headed fourth, remained prominent, mistake seventh, left behind after 3 out, blundered last, finished tired; he had a hard race and wouldn't want to be out again quickly.

FOURTH ACT (IRE) remains on a fair mark and is better judged on previous form, left with a lot to do here, likely to have been second if he'd have been asked to get closer sooner; held up, some headway 4 out, plugged on, no impression on winner but almost got to Saint Raph and had more left at the line than that rival.

GOING CONCERN (IRE) failed to stay this longer trip, shaping better than distance beaten suggests; tracked pace, travelled better than most, folded 3 out, found the test too much; he's best around 2m.

ROUGE ET BLANC (FR) again ran below form, has struggled on both starts since Newbury win; tracked pace, not always fluent, tied up before 4 out.

FAYETTE COUNTY (IRE) whose stable is struggling, ran no sort of race in first-time hood after 12 months off; raced off the pace, jumped none too fluently, never going well, pulled up after sixth; couldn't be backed with any confidence near to hand.

QUINCY DES PICTONS (FR) won this race off a break last season but, after 7 months off, ran poorly this time around and isn't one to be interested in; in touch, lost place after fourth, behind when pulled up before 3 out.