An accident-packed handicap, run at a sound pace thanks to the front-running Big Bone, that saw changing fortunes in the home straight and the form is obviously suspect.

It went the way of top-weight ROYAL HECTOR, who was held by Direct Flight prior to that rival departing at the last fence, and who has to rate a very fortunate winner. This was his handicap debut over fences, and while he may be better off reverting to two miles in the future, he could struggle if the Handicapper takes this form literally.

Big Bone, making his chase debut after a 292-day break, showed promise for the future with a creditable effort from the front, and impressed with his jumping. He is obviously entitled to improve for this experience and will no doubt prove better in this sphere than he was over timber.

Bishop's Bridge was running a respectable race prior to unseating, but appears to be in the Handicapper's grip on this evidence.

The race also lost a fair amount of its interest when Nanga Parbat and Balladeer both unseated at an early stage.

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