CARTMEL 20:25 394c49

Non Runners: CANFORD THOMPSON, START SEVEN. Hurdles: 8. Race Distance Adjustment: +24 yds

Time: 4m 37.2s Closing Sectional: (4.65f): 72.8s (102.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 140%, Betfair SP 98.6%

A contested pace on bad ground made for something of a case of last man - or, as it so happened, mare - standing, the first pair seeing things out well to come clear.

RIVIERE ARGENTEE (FR) found the return to testing conditions and the emphasis on stamina doing plenty for her, this a pretty big jump up in form ; mid-field, chased leaders 2 out, produced to lead between last 2, not fluent last, kept on well; likely to get hit pretty hard for this.

RICHARD STRAUSS (IRE) fit from Flat, ran up to best, much more substance to this than his Musselburgh win from the same mark last season, but unfortunately for him it coincided with another one taking a big step forward; tracked pace, upsides 2 out, was still pressing hard entering straight and, though left behind by winner inside final 1f, stuck to task and pulled clear of remainder.

CALLIOPE back down markedly in trip, was backed at long odds and shaped as if back in form; disputed lead, not always fluent, headed soon after 2 out, plugged on and regained third in the straight; will benefit from return to around 2½m.

TRENDSETTER (IRE) turned out again quickly, attracted plenty of back down markedly in trip but failed to build on last effort; held up, crept closer before 2 out, in contention soon after, no extra and lost third late on.

OKSANA shaped better than the distance beaten suggests and isn't one to dismiss from a tumbling mark; tracked pace, bad mistake fourth, awkward next, left behind after 2 out; she's yet to try headgear for current yard.

COURT JURADO (IRE) making handicap debut, is best not judged too harshly on this, sticking to the chewed up inside part of the track probably not in his favour; mid-division, went prominent 2 out, forced to check slightly after next and left behind soon after; should still improve.

SNOWED IN (IRE) might have needed the run after 10 weeks off; mid-division, not fluent third, held when mistake 2 out, well beaten; he's run well here before but hasn't won away from Catterick since 2014.

CLAYTON HALL (IRE) offered little without the tongue tie after 11 months off; raced well off the pace, untidy fifth, brief headway before 2 out, mistake there, effort proved short-lived.

PORTO DU SUD (FR) back down markedly in trip, ran a moody race with a visor replacing the hood after 8 weeks off, somehow managing to sweat up beforehand on a foul evening; disputed lead, reminder after first, jumped path soon after, mistake third, lost ground before 2 out, turned it in.

WEAPON OF CHOICE (IRE) unproven on the ground, showed nothing in a change of headgear after 8 weeks off; not always fluent, always behind.

ELIXER (IRE) made little impact on handicap debut; soon steadied, untidy fifth, again 2 out, dropped away.

ASTUTE BOY (IRE) under more testing conditions, ran badly back in a handicap; mid-field, slow second, lost ground with mistake 3 out, no threat after.