As usual, a tremendous contest for staying chasers, featuring four of the last five winners, but it was a lightly weighted up-and-comer who prevailed in a gruelling contest even for this, the finishing speed slower than par at 97.4%, the beaten horses slower than that again and the majority pulled up. There was a very shoddy start after a couple of false ones, several hampered in the process.
IWILLDOIT (c147+ here, 145 previously) was another fine advert for his promising young trainer, a horse who has taken off of late and who rewarded good support to win from out of the handicap, hampered at the start but working into it gradually, leading in the back straight and responding most generously for pressure.
HIGHLAND HUNTER (c149 here and previously) had gone up only 4 lb for his Sandown win and ran well, giving best only to one who was a blot on the handicap, close up most of the way, going clear with the winner from 3 out and done with only after jumping the last.
TRUCKERS LODGE (c145 here, 151 previously), second in this in 2019, ran creditably in first-time blinkers, in trouble when making a mistake 4 out then keeping on.
ACHILLE (c136 here, 142 previously) could yet get back to his very best, second in a trio of strong staying handicaps last winter, hampered at the start here but getting back into it gradually and just a length or 2 down on the turn before fading.
SECRET REPRIEVE (c114+ here, 142 previously), who won this 12 months earlier in good style, ran a lot better than the result on his first start since, improving from the rear to dispute the places briefly early in the home straight then weakening.
