AINTREE 14:50 4r5d53

All 7 ran. Fences: 19. Race Distance Adjustment: +95 yds

Time: 6m 24s Closing Sectional: (3.15f): 50.4s (94.6%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 112%, Betfair SP 99.6%

An open-looking renewal of the Bowl, with every single one of them arriving with one point or another to prove, be it their current form, ability, stamina or a combination of them all; it's hardly surprising, with that in mind, that several failed to show their form on the day but it still produced a stirring finish as Tea For Two - one of the slightly younger brigade in the field - and the multiple Grade 1-winning veteran Cue Card pulled clear at the end of a strongly-run race, the former helped by a waiting ride.

TEA FOR TWO barely had a race in the Gold Cup, so came here pretty fresh, and produced a career best to win his first Grade 1 in open company, ittedly up against rivals who didn't fire fully on the day and helped by a more conservative ride than the one Cue Card got; patiently ridden, jumped accurately, travelled best, took closer order after eleventh, chased leader before 3 out, led between last 2 and held on gamely; there'll be deeper, tougher Grade 1s for him to contest in 2017/18 when facing more of the up-and-comers from this season's novice ranks.

CUE CARD has had another good season, adding 2 more Grade 1s to his haul, but he isn't as outstanding as he was and was even below his recent best here, ittedly having had plenty of use made of him; never far away, went with zest, led thirteenth, ridden 3 out, headed between last 2, hung left, rallied but always just held.

SMAD PLACE (FR) wasn't disgraced in third but has lost his edge this season; chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, left behind between last 2.

ASO (FR) wasn't in the same form as when third in the Ryanair last time; raced off the pace, not jump well, labouring twelfth, plugged on, never dangerous.

BRISTOL DE MAI (FR) looks ready for a break, giving the impression that he found this coming too soon after the Gold Cup, not going with all of his zip and finishing tired; not always fluent, led until fifth, lost place gradually, headway under pressure between 4 out and 3 out, third 2 out, no extra; he has progressed again this season, no knocking his dominant Peter Marsh win, and perhaps next season he'll be able to make a bigger impact in these top staying chases, still only a 6-y-o after all.

SILVINIACO CONTI (FR) has steadily declined over the last couple of years, enthusiasm waining, and this run underlines that, specifically kept fresh for the race at a track where he has an excellent record but finishing out the back; prominent, jumped on fifth, headed thirteenth, beaten after 4 out, not persevered with once held; he was retired after the race - bringing to an end a hugely successful career in which he won 7 Grade 1 races.

EMPIRE OF DIRT (IRE) clearly wasn't 100% on the day; in rear, never travelling well, headway out wide tenth, lost touch after thirteenth, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, lame.