HAYDOCK PARK 15:15 2t3s12

All 14 ran. Fences: 18. Race Distance Adjustment: +77 yds

Time: 6m 22.1s Closing Sectional: (2.9f): 43.4s (104.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 119%, Betfair SP 100.6%

Much of the talk beforehand was about Alary's potential Gold Cup claims, but another Cheltenham candidate emerged in the shape of much-improved Bristol de Mai, his performance a high-class one, for all that a well-run race found out virtually all his opponents, mistakes aplenty among the vanquished, others just not going at all, those that tried to get into the race from off the pace unable to do so, the first 2 and Vintage Clouds, who would have been placed but for falling, all close up all the way.

BRISTOL DE MAI (FR) after 8 weeks off, showed much improved form, well served by 3m this time, the only one galloping at the finish after going strongly all the way, his margin exaggerated by late mistakes of his closest pursuers, though this still a high-class effort; never far away, jumped well, tanked along, made most from eighth, in command 3 out, kept on well, impressive; it's possible this was a one-off, the conditions perfect for such a performance (he'd been a wide-margin winner of the Grade 2 novice on this card in 2016), but he's only 6 and had few chances faced with this sort of test, and he's worth the benefit of the doubt, clearly running to a level that suggests he's worth allowing to take his chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

OTAGO TRAIL (IRE) was unable to confirm Newcastle placings with the much-improved winner, but he was quickly back to form and would have run close to his best but for crumpling on landing 2 out; disputed lead until sixth, remained prominent, pressed leader again home turn, ridden straight, held in second when all but came down 2 out, not recover.

BISHOPS ROAD (IRE) ran better than last time, without being quite at his best for a stable in top form at present; held up, blundered fourth, headway halfway, one paced straight; he will presumably be back here to attempt a repeat win in the Grand National Trial next month.

VIRAK (FR) was ultimately well held, but there was a fair bit more zest about his effort than on his previous starts this season and he could well step forward again next time, on a good mark on the pick of last season's form; disputed lead, ridden twelfth, weakened approaching 4 out.

BEREA BORU (IRE) completed, but once again he just didn't look up to the demands of this type of race; bad mistake first, labouring twelfth, never on .

GEVREY CHAMBERTIN (FR) had run a couple of sour races when last seen over fences, in 2015, and produced a similar effort back over them here; took little interest, always behind.

VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE) was thrown into the deep end on his handicap debut over fences, 6 lb out of the handicap, and he was acquitting himself really well until he departed late on, likely to have finished a clear third at worst, perhaps even second, given the runner-up's blunder 2 out; pressed leader or close up for much of the way, ridden straight, beginning to be left behind in clear third when fell 3 out; yet to win over fences, but surely has races in him before long, and likely to stay long distances as well.

DEFINITLY RED (IRE) failed to complete, though he would have been below the form he showed at Wetherby had he done so, alongside the eventual third when he departed and not shaping as if likely to finish any closer; held up, not fluent sixth, headway after halfway, not quicken straight, held in share of fourth when hampered and unseated 3 out.

SAUSALITO SUNRISE (IRE) was in mid-division when he blundered and unseated at the fourth.

KATENKO (FR) offered little after 10 months off, lightly raced in recent times and long since looking a shadow of his former self; raced wide, close up, weakened quickly halfway, pulled up before 4 out.

FIREBIRD FLYER (IRE) ran no sort of race, clearly not himself for whatever reason; soon behind, never travelling well, mistake third, pulled up back straight.

O MAONLAI (IRE) shaped much better than the bare result suggests, going through the race as if his new mark is within his capabilities until a blunder finished his chance; raced wide, held up, travelled well, not fluent ninth, headway when clouted fourteenth, not recover, pulled up 3 out; one to be interested in again.

SEVENTH SKY (GER) again failed to complete, just not running much of a race this time; raced off the pace, labouring twelfth, pulled up 4 out.

ALARY (FR) a high-class chaser for Francois-Marie Cottin in , had been talked up by connections as a potential Cheltenham Gold Cup contender, but he failed to cope with the demands of conceding lots of weight in a big handicap on his British debut after 10 weeks off; close up when hit first, settled mid-field after, headway to chase leaders when mistake tenth, weakened before 4 out, pulled up next; may yet show himself capable of reproducing French form in Britain, but he obviously has something to prove after this.