Expert Analysis

A small field but an up-to-scratch running, the first 4 all showing smart/very smart form. It was run at a pretty good pace – the winner ran 57.63s for a 103.5% finishing speed – but on ground that was tending towards “good to firm” and therefore provided less of a test than many that these horses are likely to encounter in coming months.

THE REAL WHACKER (c160 here, 157 previously) ran a couple of good races last season (fourth in the King George and second in the Cotswold Chase) yet disappointed otherwise, but this was right back to the form he showed when winning the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival early in 2023, soon going from the front and putting in some good jumps, turning the screw after 3 out and running on well for pressure. There are others ahead of him in the staying chaser pecking order but hopefully this augurs well for the season ahead.

BRAVEMANSGAME (c157 here, 165 previously) has not won since the King George in 2022 and has been a bit below form since second in that race nearly 12 months ago, including here following a wind operation, tracking the pace until going second before 4 out but gradually off the bridle and edging left/not finding a great deal when the chips were down. This was his first run since April, so he could build on it.

SAM BROWN (c156 here and previously) ended up running creditably but was outpaced in last for a good deal of the race, this barely enough of a test on the ground.

HANG IN THERE (c152 here, 159 previously) ran just respectably, not helped by a mid-race blunder but getting back into things before finding little late on.

CONFLATED (c135 here, 167? previously) failed to win in 2023/2024 (though ran some creditable races) and offered little encouragement in this, leading early and in touch until outpaced from before 4 out.

FRENCH DYNAMITE (c116 here, 148 previously) was facing a much stiffer task and was quickly dropped going to 4 out, failing to run his race.