The winner of this Prestige McGregor Grant Steeplechase over 4150m was Eion that raced second up today and beforehand has one win from fourteen starts. The 7yo gelding won his maiden Steeplechase on this same track in September of 2019 so he was away from the track for almost two seasons. The winners and where they came from turning for home were led (seven-off the fence and by a neck), fifth (seven-off the fence and two lengths from the leader), led (thirteen-off the fence and a neck in front), led (seven-off the fence and two lengths in front), led (fourteen-off the fence and a neck in front), led (fourteen-off the fence and a neck in front), led (eighteen-off the inside and a neck in front), third (eighteen-off the inside and a long neck from the leader) and fourth (fourteen-off the inside and length and a half from the leader). The bottomless Heavy footing today also saw six leaders win in the atrocious conditions and the other three winners were running third, fourth and fifth with the farthest from the leaders on the home turn being two lengths. It really was an absolute bog today and the 1200m events were run in over 1:18 and 1:19 while the Rating 74 mile was run and won in 1:46.55 and the two 2200m events posted 2:35.76 and 2:38.49. Eion raced third on his own mostly then closed on the leaders over the hill for the final time before taking the lead near the home turn and then he went clear to win by almost three lengths in 5:24.29. Second home was the 10yo It's a Wonder that raced second mostly and was third near the home turn the last time but boxed on well to regain second at the 50m. Third home was Zartan that had in his prior start won his maiden Steeplechase over 3900m on a flat circuit and today he now has a Prestige Steeplechase placing. He was having his eightieth outing today and the 11yo has been around for ages. Fourth home and beaten five lengths was the favourite Mesmerize that raced fourth in a gap for most of the race then improved fourth at the hill the last time but could never quite haul back his deficit. He fought on the closing stages when the second and third runners ahead of him were going up and down on the same spot. Next home was Lacustre that raced fourth on his own mostly and the 9yo was fifth over the hill for the final time before boxing on the run home to be beaten six and a half lengths. Mr Enthusiastic raced sixth mostly then stumbled a mile out before dropping right away and he was beaten thirty-four and a half lengths. Max settled down last and never passed a runner and the 11yo was beaten over thirty-seven lengths. This was a weak and mostly aged field and the footing was so testing that exhaustion reigned supreme. The winner was second up after a near two year break due to injury but still blew them away and that says more about the opposition. He was also the youngest runner in the race by a couple of years too.