NAVAN 14:30 q2u5l

All 23 ran. Fences: 17.

Time: 6m 34.2s Closing Sectional: (3.1f): 50.6s (100.6%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 146%, Betfair SP 101.7%

A one-sided renewal of this valuable handicap chase, Chris’s Dream much the best on the day and winning with plenty to spare over the consistent runner-up; a sound early pace meant the emphasis was firmly on stamina, though those held up struggled to make much of an impact.

CHRIS'S DREAM (IRE) a smart novice chaser last season, showed much improved form and resumed winning ways in impressive fashion switched to a handicap after 7 months off, maintaining his unbeaten record at this track and looking a high-class performer in the making; mid-field, jumped soundly in main, travelled strongly, headway from 5 out, loomed up entering straight, jumped on 3 out, asserted between last 2, stayed on well; connections suggested he may now be aimed at the Thyestes Chase at Gowran in January, though he'll be well worth his place back at a higher level should they decide to go a different route.

FITZHENRY (IRE) back over fences, again shaped well in a valuable handicap with blinkers back on, going through the race as if ahead of his mark, but just finding a stronger stayer too good; soon steadied, travelled well, crept closer 4 out, loomed up 3 out, chased leader from next, held when tired mistake last.

PORTMORE LOUGH (IRE) upped in trip, ran up to best, clearly staying the longer trip despite being unable to go with the well-treated pair that finished in front of him; chased leaders, not fluent seventh, second home turn, ridden 3 out, one paced from next.

SPACE CADET (IRE) back in headgear, proved he retains a good portion of his ability on first outing since leaving Gordon Elliott, in first-time tongue strap, acknowledging his effort was very much one of late gains through tiring rivals; mid-field, ridden from 4 out, ran on late.

REDHOTFILLYPEPPERS (IRE) was stretched by the longer trip after 7 months off; in touch, took closer order 4 out, ridden from next, no extra between last 2.

WINTER ESCAPE (IRE) back over fences, shaped as if back in form after 7 weeks off, his stamina just ebbing away in the latter stages; in touch, ridden from home turn, no extra from 2 out; will benefit from return to around 2½m.

MR DIABLO (IRE) who has gone well fresh, shaped better than the bare result after 9 months off, but was unable to match last season's second placing, his exertions in breaking up the main body of the field telling late on; close up, led from third, headed 3 out, weakened between last 2.

DISCORAMA (FR) wasn't seen to best effect on handicap chase debut, caught further back than ideal the way things unfolded, though the way he stuck to his task in the latter stages suggests he'll be well worth another try at a marathon trip at some stage this season; raced off the pace, hampered eleventh, headway after 5 out, ridden next, kept on;

WOODS WELL (IRE) stepped up on reappearance run, though not for the first time appeared to find a good test at this trip beyond him; led until third, remained prominent, ridden entering straight, weakened before 2 out.

ROARING BULL (IRE) shaped better than the distance beaten suggests, though might have been expected to see out his race better than he did, the testing conditions possibly just stretching him (standout effort at 3m came on good ground); chased leaders, travelled fluently, ridden from 3 out, weakened between last 2.

YOUNG PADDYMC (IRE) again attracted significant market , but once more failed to meet expectations and suddenly finds himself with a couple of questions to answer as a result; prominent, blundered eighth, ridden entering straight, weakening when not fluent 3 out.

TIMIYAN (USA) continues out of sorts; held up, ridden 4 out, made little impression.

SOLOMN GRUNDY (IRE) back up in trip, should strip fitter for the run after 9 months off; mid-division, not always fluent, effort before 3 out, weakened, not unduly punished once held.

SHADY OPERATOR (IRE) failed to build on the promise of last run in first-time tongue strap; mid-field, headway after 5 out, lost place when slow next, soon beaten.

TEMPLEMORE DREAM (IRE) departed too far out to draw any firm conclusions as to his wellbeing; waited with, headway when fell twelfth.

OSCAR KNIGHT (IRE) back down in trip, produced a laboured effort and would have finished well held had he completed; held up, went in snatches, slow eighth, pecked eleventh, struggling next, behind when fell last.

RAVENHILL (IRE) failed to complete after 11 weeks off; mid-division, fell eleventh, too far out to suggest outcome.

THE BIG LENSE (IRE) was again let down by his jumping; chased leaders, unseated rider eleventh.

DE NAME ESCAPES ME (IRE) was below form after 3 months off; held up, some headway after 5 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out.

BURGAS (FR) upped in trip, ran no sort of race after 10 months off; mid-field, struggling when slow eleventh, pulled up before 5 out.

GUN DIGGER (IRE) fared no better in first-time visor, has lost way; mid-division, struggling when bad mistake 5 out, pulled up before 3 out.

TOWER BRIDGE (IRE) upped in trip, was largely expected to relish this test but failed to meet expectations returned to handicap company, interference suffered on the final circuit offering only partial mitigation; mid-field, hampered eleventh, struggling from next, pulled up before last.

NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE) without headgear this time, can have this run overlooked; raced off the pace, badly hampered eleventh, hampered again twelfth, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out.