EXETER 15:10 3y3w46

Non Runners: GOLDEN SOVEREIGN (IRE), HOLD THAT TAUGHT, ASK ME EARLY (IRE). Fences: 18. Race Distance Adjustment: -6 yds

Time: 6m 27.5s Closing Sectional: (2.2f): 37.2s (94.6%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 121%, Betfair SP 99.7%

There was a bit of a muddling feel to the closing stages - they were in a heap behind the ready winner - but this was essentially a fairly competitive handicap and there's hope that the form will work out, with cases of varying strength to be made for each of the first 7 next time; the pace was sound.

CROSSLEY TENDER is a likeable type and was better than ever to add a fourth win to what's been a terrific season, scoring smoothly enough to think that further success could well be on the cards; held up, travelled well, hit tenth, steady headway back straight, challenged soon after 3 out, went on before last, drew clear flat.

SAMUEL JACKSON returned to form back over fences but found even this test inadequate, crying out for a return to extreme distances, the Devon National here next month an obvious target, the handicapper certainly having given him a chance (9 lb below last winning mark); in touch, badly outpaced home turn, rallied well from 2 out, took second flat.

STRICTLYADANCER (IRE) looked slightly hard work at times but essentially acquitted himself well in a better race than before and should continue to give a good , his form having got better with each run since put in cheekpieces; mid-field, went in snatches, mistake ninth, pushed along home turn, went second run-in and kept on despite losing that place on the line.

TEA TIME ON MARS ran at least as well in defeat as when winning the time before and looks sure to remain competitive, with weaker races than this one easy to find; close up, upsides 4 out, mistake next, headed before last, no extra and lost 2 places flat.

BALLYCROSS is an odd one to have ed this stable, but it's obviously a positive and he shaped encouragingly on his first outing since leaving Paul George after 14 months off, leaving the impression he can win a handicap under stronger handling, though it's a good bet the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown is next on the agenda, when this rider will be on a level playing field up against fellow amateurs; held up, headway when clouted 4 out, hit next, progress before last, finished with running left.

DANCING SHADOW (IRE) again ran creditably and can't really be knocked on what he's done this season; led until 4 out, one paced.

MUCKAMORE (IRE) shaped similarly to on his chasing debut after 8 weeks off, albeit over a longer trip, getting into a winning position only to finish weakly; in touch, not fluent second, untidy eleventh, upsides 4 out, effort next, ridden when mistake 2 out, folded; he's better than this but it isn't obvious at the minute what the key might be to making him click.

NORMANDY SOLDIER went backwards from chasing bow; raced off the pace, went with little fluency, mistakes third, eighth, struggling from eleventh.

FORTESCUE followed a good run with a bad one for no obvious reason; off pace, labouring badly eleventh.

MR CLARKSON (IRE) was a big price for one that might've won last time and ran badly; chased leaders, blundered third, reminders fifth, weakened after twelfth.

MINELLA BOBO (IRE) on softer ground than previously, ran even worse; mid-division, mistakes seventh, ninth, pushed along before 4 out, weakening when blundered there.

SANDY BOY (IRE) ran no sort of race; took little interest, beaten long way out.