UTTOXETER 15:35 d1r4m

Non Runners: JERSEY BEAN (IRE). Fences: 25.

Time: 9m 6.2s Closing Sectional: (2.7f): 40.6s (106.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 125%, Betfair SP 99.8%

Irish-trained runners might have been out of luck in the Cheltenham Festival handicap chases but they led home a 1-2 here, the winner ridden closer to the pace than in 2021 and duly going 3 places better; in some respects it wasn't a typical long-distance chase, with the gallop rather a stop-start one, whilst a third of the field - including the runner-up - were racing from out of the weights.

SCREAMING COLOURS (IRE) has been a remarkable success story over these past 2 years, both in of consistency and progressive form, and proved better than ever in making this winning return from 5 months off; travelled smoothly in touch (again ridden much less patiently than in 2020/21), hit twelfth, produced to lead 3 out, quickened clear next, won easily; should continue to give a good .

YOUNG DEV (IRE) ran well back over fences despite being 4 lb out of the handicap; patiently ridden, pecked seventh, still plenty to do end of back straight, stayed on well to go second at last (albeit no match for winner).

TIME TO GET UP (IRE) strong in the betting, ran creditably in first-time cheekpieces bidding to repeat his 2021 win (4 lb higher mark this time); in touch, travelled well, shaken up home turn, plugged on latter stages, went third last.

EL PASO WOOD (FR) 4 lb out of the handicap, returned to form from out of the blue and arguably deserves extra credit given his stamina got stretched after a big forward move; mid-division, went on between 5 out and 4 out, headed 3 out, faded late on.

MOMELLA (IRE) was having a rare run outside of mares company and found this too competitive (never better than mid-field), with the longer trip probably not a factor.

TRUCKERS LODGE (IRE) was bidding to repeat his 2020 win in this race and shaped as if still in good form, probably doing a bit too much too soon; close up, mistake eighteenth, led briefly end of back straight, weakened from 3 out.

PADLEYOUROWNCANOE disappointed back over fences and is difficult to assess at present; handy, shuffled back early final circuit, brushed aside straight.

DE YOUNG WARRIOR should have been suited by this longer trip but disappointed in first-time cheekpieces even allowing for the fact he was 4 lb out of the handicap, never better than mid-field having gone badly in snatches for much of the way.

GWENCILY BERBAS (FR) was well held from 5 lb out of the handicap; mid-division, in contention briefly end of back straight, faded from home turn.

ACHILLE (FR) was potentially thrown-in (even from 3 lb out of weights) and shaped as if back in good heart fitted with different headgear until exiting in luckless fashion; raced wide, mid-division, took closer order from halfway, going well in second when unseated rider due to broken stirrup early final circuit.

SUPREME ESCAPE (IRE) faced a stiff task from 10 lb out of the handicap but ran no sort of race all the same; took little interest and soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after eighth.

CAPTAIN DRAKE (IRE) wasn't in the same form as at Exeter, adding to a patchy recent record on the back of that gruelling slog; in touch, lost place when mistake fifteenth, beaten end of back straight, had breathing problem.

FINAL NUDGE (IRE) after 10 weeks off, turned in a rare poor effort; mid-division, not fluent fourteenth, lost touch from early final circuit.

HEAR NO EVIL (IRE) has been handed a stiff-looking BHA mark and made no impact; dropped out, mistake third, struggling before halfway, pulled up after fourteenth.

ROMAIN DE SENAM (FR) was a very doubtful stayer and is difficult to assess after this return from 11 months off (left Dan Skelton in interim); held up, still towards rear when blundered eighteenth, pulled up quickly (possibly amiss).

WHOLESTONE (IRE) was let down by his jumping back over fences; waited with, not fluent, blundered fifteenth, brushed aside straight.

HEWICK (IRE) shaped better than being pulled up might suggest after 5 months off and probably remains in form; prominent, took over fifteenth, headed when badly hampered by loose horse end of back straight, ridden in share of fourth when clouted 3 out, not recover.

YALA ENKI (FR) found this much more competitive than the 2 races he'd won earlier this season and struggled after 8 weeks off; led until fifteenth, dropped away back straight.