CHELTENHAM 15:30 294l2r

All 11 ran. Fences: 22.

Time: 6m 42.3s Closing Sectional: (3.84f): 57.4s (102.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 112%, Betfair SP 101.5%

A representative field for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, lacking really only the winner of the Irish Gold Cup Conflated, and it looked an open contest beforehand, with not a lot to choose between the pick of the field on their best form, a close contest continuing to look on the cards for much of the way, the pace ordinary on the first circuit, plenty still with a chance and going okay 3 out, the winner in a bit of a pocket as last season's winner Minella Indo kicked for home, before he picked up in the straight and stormed up the run-in in remarkable fashion, the winning margin the widest in the race since Master Oats scored by the same distance in the mud in 1995, the winner's superiority over the second somewhat exaggerated, his stable companion finishing rather tamely, though clearly A Plus Tard deserves his place at the head of the staying chasing pecking order.

A PLUS TARD (FR) went one better than last season, storming home after a close contest had looked on the cards entering the straight, this performance, along with his win in the Betfair Chase, clearly showing him the best of the staying chasers, though perhaps not so far ahead of the rest as the margins in the 2 races might suggest; held up, travelled well, shaken up 3 out, short of room entering straight, went second 2 out, led last, stayed on strongly; he didn't run again last season after the Gold Cup or the season before after the Ryanair, and disappointed when he did take in the Punchestown Festival prior to that, so it remains to be seen if he runs again this spring and whether he can back up this excellent effort in the short term.

MINELLA INDO (IRE) added another second place to his excellent Festival record, and he clearly emerges with credit, though he didn't finish the race nearly so well as looked likely after he quickened off the bend, 3 defeats after trading short-in-running now along with his King George flop on his return this season something of a concern; in touch, travelled well, chased leaders 4 out, led next, quickened clear home turn, ridden early in straight, headed when mistake last, no extra run-in.

PROTEKTORAT (FR) ran well after 3 months off, seeing the slightly longer trip out and emerging best of the British, a year younger than any of his rivals and likely to be a contender again next season, though the Bowl at Aintree might well offer more immediate compensation; held up, travelled well, effort before 3 out, chased leader early in straight, one paced, beaten when blundered last.

GALVIN (IRE) who had beaten the winner in the Savills and had won the NH Chase here last season, ran respectably, just wanting for pace at a crucial stage; held up, mistake fifteenth, ridden 4 out, short of room after, outpaced approaching home turn, stayed on again run-in.

ROYALE PAGAILLE (FR) gave a much better of himself than he had as a novice in this race last season, though presumably even softer ground would have helped him still further, still young enough for a third serious crack at the race next season, though a Betfair Chase in the mud might be his ideal option, his performance another fine one from the stable which, along with Nicky Henderson's, that did best of the British during the week; held up, went prominent ninth, every chance when clouted 4 out, outpaced entering straight.

AL BOUM PHOTO (FR) wasn't disgraced in first-time cheekpieces, having his first serious contest since last April, the t-oldest in this field and likely to have to settle for just the 2 wins in this race; in touch, effort 3 out, chased leader briefly early in straight, no extra after 2 out.

ASTERION FORLONGE (FR) ran respectably, keeping mistakes to a minimum after a hairy jump early on, making the running making sense in a race with little obvious pace, perhaps just stretched by the longer trip late on; led, mistake third, headed seventh, not fluent fourteenth, led again next, headed 3 out, no extra after 2 out.

SANTINI wasn't disgraced, faring best of those that had contested the Cotswold Chase, just not the force he was when second to Al Boum Photo in the 2020 running; chased leaders, ridden fifteenth, weakened 3 out.

AYE RIGHT (IRE) was well held, just not up to this class; pressed leader, jumped on seventh, headed fifteenth, weakened eighteenth; he's not in the Nationals coming up, which might have been a rather more realistic aim.

TORNADO FLYER (IRE) had run with credit without getting fully competitive in Grade 1 chases at the Festival for the last 2 seasons and came here off a career best, but he ran no sort of race, his jumping going to pieces after he belted the first; soon behind, jumped poorly, labouring eighteenth, pulled up before 2 out.

CHANTRY HOUSE (IRE) again in cheekpieces, was hard to fancy on the way that he had won the Cotswold, but this was still a second stinker in 3 starts, even more dismal than his run in the King George, serious concerns about his attitude and jumping now, despite his seemingly impressive form figures (as opposed to form); in rear, jumped sketchily, never travelling well, pulled up before eighteenth.