The course was again railed in tightly to save much of the Flat course from being ploughed up with the hurdle course hard against the inside chase course in the straight. A crisp dry day was helping to dry out what had been desperate ground at the last meeting. With plenty of sand filling, the ground was considerably better and they returned a decent time.

The first three finished a long way clear and look above average performers, although there was plenty of deadwood behind. STRAW BEAR, so impressive on his debut in testing ground at Leicester, had to work harder here on drying ground but won well enough again against a potential useful rival as both hold the Supreme Novice entry at Cheltenham.

He was pulled wide to the stands-side rail in the straight bringing the runner-up with him as tiring front-runner White On Black stayed up the inside. He was not quickly away from the last and was momentarily headed but was only pushed up to reassert and win with a little in hand.

As trainer Nick Gifford admitted, this race was "a million miles away from what he is going to get at Cheltenham" and it is debatable what he has learnt here, failing to drop the bit and proving too classy. The winner wears stick-on shoes as he has thin and delicate soles, another concern for faster ground come Cheltenham, and while he has won on good ground on the Flat, connections will not risk him if there is firm in the equation as he can jar himself up easily.Tagula Blue improved considerably on his only other jumping start and former trainer Jeremy Glover had reported previously that he would improve as he strengthened up. That appears to be the case and he was keeping on strongly up the straight, suggesting a longer trip would not go amiss now - his half-brother won over three miles.

White On Black warmed to his task through the race before tiring badly going to the last. This winning German import can improve on the bare form with this under his belt.

Street Life was in the process of running a good race when flattening the second last and he was eased thereafter, officially reported to have finished lame.

Harcourt and Naja de Billeron were others who were not given a hard time when out with the washing before the home bend.

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