A severe test of stamina, and only six completed, the remainder being pulled up.

DUNBRODY MILLAR took a long time getting off the mark, but he is in the form of his life and made up for an unlucky fall at Doncaster, when connections were convincedhe would have won. The upside of that setback was that at least he stayed on the same mark, which Tom Malone exploited to the full in these gruelling conditions. Given a most forceful ride, he had effectively shaken off his challengers before the home straight and came home well clear. He will be given a short break.

Toulouse-Lautrec had conditions to suit but was 20lb higher than when winning the corresponding race on last year's card and faced a stiff task conceding so much weight to the winner.He did well in the circumstances.

His stablemate Calvic made eyecatching headway up the inner down the far side for the last time, but after hitting the fourth-last he never looked like getting to the leader.

Cowboyboots appeared to recoverquickly from a blunder at the fourth, which almost put his rider out of the saddle, but the mistake must have taken something out of him and he was struggling from three out.

Neither of the fancied Nicholls runners, course specialist French Executive and recent Ludlow winner Le Jaguar, ran their races, but both have shown their best form on much better ground, so their running can be safely ignored.

Brave Spirit's tame effort is harder to explain, but perhaps his Sandown defeat took a lot out of him. He soon lost his place and became detached.

Kausse de Thaix moved into second at halfway but his chance had already gone when he blundered at the fourth-last and was pulled up. He has shot up the handicap for his wins at Fontwell and Windsor, when he jumped so well. His stablemate Lulumar was pulled up after a blunder at the fifth-last. He was not a certain stayer in any case.

*Joe Tizzard reported that Brave Spirit was never travelling.

*Liam Heard reported Le Jaguar was unsuited by the going.

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