CHELTENHAM 15:30 294l2r

Non Runners: SHANTOU FLYER (IRE), DOUBLE SHUFFLE (IRE), MINELLA ROCCO (IRE). Fences: 22.

Time: 7m 2.6s Closing Sectional: (3.84f): 60.9s (101.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 120%, Betfair SP 102.3%

Rewind 10 years and it was Denman vs Kauto Star in a most compelling Gold Cup duel, and although the 2018 renewal of National Hunt racing's most prestigious contest may not have had the same pre-race draw or quite the same level of quality it did develop into an enthralling showdown between 2 of the market leaders, fantastic viewing as Native River and Might Bite went head-to-head from flagfall, ittedly not at a strong early pace, but neither put a foot wrong and piled the pressure on the chasing pack a long way out, with only the odd one of them even threatening to get involved in the battle up ahead; the winner had been third in the race 12 months earlier, behind Sizing John, who was ruled out by injury this time around, whilst Minella Rocco - second in 2017 - was pulled out on the day because of worsening ground.

NATIVE RIVER (IRE) had a different preparation for this year's Gold Cup, and that he arrived a fresher horse than 12 months earlier was probably a help, his small-field Newbury win the ideal stepping stone to get him here all guns blazing for a career-best performance, whilst conditions were a factor too, bringing his stamina into play more than on good ground last year; forcing the pace, he jumped boldly, ridden after 3 out and headed narrowly 2 out, immediately fighting back and in front again jumping the last, edging right but finding plenty up the hill, outstaying the runner-up; this gave trainer Colin Tizzard a first Gold Cup win and Champion Jockey Richard Johnson a second 18 years after Looks Like Trouble, and no doubt Native River will be back to make another bold bid in the next couple of years, not over-raced for an 8-y-o which ought to help with his longevity; shorter term he'll probably go for the Bowl at Aintree, where he won the Mildmay as a novice, but a thorough test suits him best and if he comes up against Might Bite again over 1f shorter on the flat track there he's going to be vulnerable to his speed.

MIGHT BITE (IRE) is a class act and for 95% of this he looked just that, so impressive with how he kept tabs with Native River, matching him stride for stride and jump for jump, stamina his shortfall in the end on very testing ground over the longest trip he's ever tackled; pressed leader, jumped superbly, travelled strongly, led 2 out, headed last, no extra final 100 yds, outstayed by a stamina-laden rival; he won at Aintree a few weeks after his RSA success last year and the Bowl there next month looks the ideal next race for him as that will place slightly less emphasis on stamina and more on his high-cruising speed and excellent jumping.

ANIBALE FLY (FR) was very well suited by this thorough stamina test, tackling a longer trip than before, possible he'd have got closer still but for a couple of small errors coming down the hill for the last time, but he ran the race of his life anyway; mid-division, closing when mistake 4 out, hit 3 out, took third last, stayed on well; he'll be an interesting runner if taking his chance in the Grand National as a mark of 159 is lenient on this form and he shapes as if he'll stay extreme distances.

ROAD TO RESPECT (IRE) has come a long way since winning the Plate at this meeting last year, a bona-fide Grade 1 horse now, not quite repeating the form of his Leopardstown win over Christmas but still running with credit to hit the frame on ground that was more testing than he's shown his very best form; mid-division, travelled well, headway sixteenth, went third 4 out, driven before 2 out, not fluent there, one paced; he has time on his side, younger than any of the other principals, and it'd be no surprise at all if he made an even bigger impact in future Gold Cups.

DJAKADAM (FR) shaped better than the distance beaten suggests, his stamina stretched on ground that was more testing than for the 3 previous Gold Cups he'd contested, whilst some errors wouldn't have helped with his finishing effort either; tracked pace, travelled well, blundered thirteenth, mistakes 5 out, 3 out, no extra between last 2; it's not been his best season but there was more verve about him this day and it's worth ing that he's run some of his very best races at Punchestown, including when pushing Sizing John close there last April.

DEFINITLY RED (IRE) had won Grade 2's the last twice but neither of those are particularly strong pieces of form and he found this too competitive up against the best staying chasers around; chased leaders but always looked uncomfortable with the pace, lost place fifteenth, well off pace after next, merely plugged on.

TEA FOR TWO completed 12 months on from an early unseat in this race but never threatened to get seriously involved from the back of the field on ground that was more testing than his optimum; he ought to run much better in the Bowl at Aintree, a race he won in 2017.

EDWULF showed last time that he can produce a top-class performance but couldn't get close to repeating that effort 6 weeks on; in rear, some headway 4 out, weakened after next.

AMERICAN (FR) didn't disgrace himself, in the mix for a long way, but quite simply wasn't up to the task; chased leaders, lost place 4 out, beaten next, weakened.

BACHASSON (FR) fell at the second.

TOTAL RECALL (IRE) faced his toughest task yet but has had a progressive campaign and was in the process of running well when departing; held up, headway 5 out, ridden after 4 out, keeping on when fell next, in sixth place and only around a length behind Anibale Fly at the time; he got straight up and galloped away and, though it's hardly ideal to go into a Grand National on the back of a fall, he still appeals as well handicapped (BHA-rated 156) and that's reportedly been his main target since winning the Ladbrokes Trophy in the autumn.

KILLULTAGH VIC (IRE) was let down by jumping 5 weeks after a crunching fall in the Irish Gold Cup, struggling badly 5 out and pulled up between last 2 having not made an impression.

OUR DUKE (IRE) didn't cope with this most demanding of examinations, his suspect jumping failing to muster, though the way he stopped pointed towards a physical issue as well; chased leaders, jumped sketchily, blundered thirteenth, never going well after, stopped quickly after sixteenth, pulled up before 4 out.

OUTLANDER (IRE) is prone to poor runs and this was one of them, yet to fire in this race after 2 tries; held up, labouring seventeenth, lost touch after 4 out, not keen on the day and pulled up between the last 2.

SAPHIR DU RHEU (FR) was fifth in last year's Gold Cup but has had problems since (now tongue tied) and went backwards from his reappearance; raced wide, mid-division, lost touch after sixteenth, pulled up before 4 out; he's plenty to prove now.