AINTREE 14:55

Non Runners: BRAVEMANSGAME (FR). Fences: 19. Race Distance Adjustment: +74 yds

Time: 6m 21.2s Closing Sectional: (3.15f): 48.6s (97.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 108%, Betfair SP 101.2%

A good renewal on paper of a race that can often seem a bit substandard compared to the very best Grade 1s, the best running of the race since 2016, when Cue Card produced a top-class effort to defeat Don Poli and Djakadam, even if the forced withdrawal of the Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame, for reasons connected to the horse's ownership, took some of the gloss off the contest; in the event, 2 of the 4 main contenders failed to give their running, but the other 2 served up a stirring finish, Shishkin proving his stamina at 3m for the first time, snatching the race late on after the runner-up had looked home and hosed, matched at 1.07 in running, whether the final result is a fair reflection of the pair's efforts on the day open to question.

SHISHKIN (IRE) upped markedly in trip and without the tongue strap this time, wasted no time getting back to form, travelling much more comfortably than had been the case in the Ryanair, his strength in a finish when he's on song making the difference, much as it had when he beat Energumene in the 2022 Clarence House; in touch, took keen hold, went second circuit out, outpaced after 4 out, rallied approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead run-in, ridden out; this win maps his course for the rest of his career, with the King George and the Gold Cup the set agenda for next season, his form more than good enough to make him a major contender in both.

AHOY SENOR (IRE) under Hughes for the first time, his regular rider battling to be fit for the Grand National, enhanced his fine record at this meeting, running the race of his life, even if he couldn't quite finish it off after looking all over the winner, Shishkin deserving credit for how much he found; led, tended to jump slightly right and not always fluent, travelled well, joined briefly seventh, pressed on before 3 out, looked in control next, ridden between last 2, not fluent last, headed run-in; he's a top-class staying chaser, one of the very best seen with such a moderate jumping technique.

A PLUS TARD (FR) completed for the first time since winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup, but produced a tame finishing effort that raises questions about his future prospects; patiently ridden, travelled well, shaken up approaching 2 out, not fluent there, found little.

CONFLATED (IRE) presumably hadn't got over his fine effort in the Gold Cup and was quickly on the retreat once he came off the bridle, connections reporting that he ran flat; tracked pace, not fluent sixth, disputed lead briefly next, chased leader 4 out, ridden straight, soon done with, eased 2 out, pulled up.

GA LAW (FR) might well have been running in the Grand National had he not fallen at Doncaster (not qualified as a result, lacking a place over 3m) and was up against it at this level, though he ran no sort of race even so; held up, went with little fluency, mistake fifth, lost touch eighth, pulled up before 3 out.