EXETER 15:00 4m573y

All 8 ran. Fences: 18. Race Distance Adjustment: +77 yds

Time: 6m 22.2s Closing Sectional: (2.2f): 37.5s (91.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 112%, Betfair SP 100.7%

Probably not a bad piece of form so far as veteran events go, the first 2 stable companions who were having their first start in such company, with one who’d been prolific this season back in fourth; the gallop was strong and the pace-setting runner-up deserves credit for sticking to his task as he did.

CREDO (IRE) found a first try in veterans company liberating, a first-time visor adding an extra edge and also well suited by how the race developed; patiently ridden, jumped soundly, travelled well, steady headway twelfth, took closer order entering straight, shaken up briefly after 3 out, back on bridle after next, produced to lead approaching last, drew clear flat, comfortably.

GUSTAVIAN (IRE) did best of the pacesetters switched to a veterans event for the first time and will remain of interest in similar company; led, travelled well, mistake 2 out, headed narrowly before last, kept on.

DASHEL DRASHER isn't quite the force of old but again ran creditably after 9 weeks off; tracked pace, not fluent ninth, shaken up home turn, led briefly after 2 out, no extra from last.

COPPERHEAD deserves credit for how well he's held his form this season, though he has crept up the weights and this was harder work for him as a result; close up, pecked badly eleventh, ridden home turn, jumped right 3 out, no extra approaching last.

CLOUDY GLEN (IRE) remains with one standout effort this season, fresh looking more than ever the time to catch him; in rear, not jump well, went with little fluency, lost ground after third, brief headway under pressure home turn but held soon after.

ASK ME EARLY (IRE) who won this race last year, gave an indication from a very early stage that he wasn't going to be repeating it; in rear, jumped slowly on occasions, went in snatches, lost ground after third, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out.

BLACKJACK MAGIC has stood little racing in recent times (off a further 11 weeks ahead of this) and, retried in headgear, failed to complete for a third consecutive start; in touch, lost place after eleventh, soon done with.

DOES HE KNOW ran badly on his first foray into veterans company after 9 weeks off; close up, carried head bit awkwardly, lost place before eleventh, ridden soon after 5 out, dropped away home turn.