UTTOXETER 16:05 3vu38

Non Runners: REGAL ENCORE (IRE), DRAGON D'ESTRUVAL (FR). Fences: 19.

Time: 6m 29.1s Closing Sectional: (2.6f): 38.7s (100.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 127%, Betfair SP 102.1%

A representative field for this valuable summer prize and there was an exciting finish, with Brave Eagle putting up a very smart performance to score off a BHA mark of 152; a good pace steadied briefly a circuit out.

BRAVE EAGLE (IRE) showed further improvement to make it 4 wins from just 5 starts over fences, as expected benefiting from the step back up in trip; mid-division, mistake tenth (jumped okay otherwise), took closer order back straight, shaken up home turn, stayed on strongly to lead between last 2, all out to hold on; remains with potential, particularly over even further.

KILLARO BOY (IRE) proved better than ever back in handicap company and has clearly turned over a new leaf for new connections; went with zest, led until sixth, remained prominent, hit ninth, led again on extended run between 3 out (usual 4 out) and 2 out, headed approaching last, rallied run-in, just failed; likely to continue in form.

WINTER LION (IRE) was fit from a couple of recent spins on the Flat for the yard (formerly with Fergal O'Brien) and ran as well as he ever has; in touch, travelled better than is often the case, lost place briefly when mistake twelfth, rallied well latter stages.

VAN GOGH DU GRANIT (FR) back over fences, shaped as if still in good form; prominent, raced freely, took over sixth, kicked on home turn, headed between 3 out and 2 out, faded, possibly did too much too soon.

DOING FINE (IRE) ran better than last time despite not being seen to best effect; dropped out, still plenty to do end of back straight, late headway, never nearer.

NOTWHATIAM (IRE) probably remains in form; waited with, travelled better than most, hit first, going well when clouted fourteenth, brief headway home turn, never landed a blow; worth another chance off this sort of mark.

THECLOCKISTICKING (IRE) was strong in the betting but failed to build on the promise of last run after 9 weeks off; mid-division, lost place when blundered thirteenth, not clear run briefly after 4 out (usual 5 out), plugged on; it bears repeating that he's competitively handicapped at present.

BLAIRS COVE looked stable second string and found this too competitive off his revised mark; mid-division, ridden home turn, never involved.

HENLLAN HARRI (IRE) was racing from a mark 4 lb lower (even though out of the handicap) than when second in last year's renewal of this race but continues out of sorts; handy, ridden leaving back straight, weakened.

SOUPY SOUPS (IRE) failed to stay; held up, smooth headway from early final circuit, in contention home turn, weakened; type to bounce back quickly granted less of a test.

MAHLERMADE (IRE) turned in a rare poor effort; mid-division, lost place around halfway, beaten some way out; may benefit from a break.

RED GIANT (IRE) followed a below-par effort with an even worse one and is becoming increasingly temperamental; raced off pace, not always fluent, off the bridle long way out, looked none too keen, never involved; questions to answer now.

YOU SAY WHAT (IRE) met with a sad end; waited with, fell fatally tenth.

GENTLEMAN JON isn't the force of old and found this larger-field affair much too competitive; mid-division, brief headway back straight, dropped away quickly 4 out (usual 5 out).

MONBEG LEGEND ran badly; in touch, lost place back straight, beaten some way out.