An average novice chase won in grand style by PARTY GAMES, whose jumping was more assured and seemed to show improved form in the first-time cheekpieces. Evidently freshened up by a break, he was always ideally positioned and jumped well in the main barring a mistake at the third-last. Left with only the tiring Denada to pick off as they turned into the straight, he ran out an authoritative winner and may be open to further improvement. He remains an interesting handicap prospect.

Denada has obviously been hard to train, this being only his seventh start, but he has a good deal of ability and showed no ill-effects from a fall on his reappearance at Warwick, jumping boldly. He will remain a risky betting proposition, however.

Kyno ran well for a long way on his chasing debut at Fakenham last month and was fancied here, but he did not jump with the same fluency under hold-up tactics and failed to build on that effort.

Scotch Corner began to stay on leaving the back straight, but his effort did not last long and he was struggling again before the second-last. A winner last time over two miles, this return to three did not suit and he is going to find life easier in handicaps.

Martin Ossie was a fascinating contender, having won his last seven races in point-to-points and one hunter chase on his most recent outing at this course. Usually a bold jumper, this better class of rival appeared to find him out and a few mistakes down the back straight were enough to see him pulled up. He may be worthy of another chance due to his previous achievements, but he could not be backed with confidence.

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