CHELTENHAM 13:15

Non Runners: MYSTIFIABLE, SOURIYAN (FR), JAVERT (IRE). Fences: 13. Race Distance Adjustment: +97 yds

Time: 5m 39.6s Closing Sectional: (3.84f): 66.1s (93.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 115%, Betfair SP 101.3%

Plenty of these came into the race on the up, but testing conditions and a sound gallop found out the majority, a prominent position as so often at this particular meeting looking an advantage, a relatively cautious view best taken of the form, for all that the winner has the potential to go a long way.

KING'S ODYSSEY (IRE) progressed again, already verging on smart after just 3 starts over fences, a good long-term prospect, his ability to handle testing ground so well suggesting he may be looked after until races such as the Paddy Power or even the Hennessy next winter, the novice handicap at the Festival out after this and his trainer sounding less than keen afterwards to take up a Golden Miller entry; in touch, jumped well, travelled well, went prominent fourth, disputed lead tenth, led home turn, ridden run-in, kept on; one to keep on right side.

WALDORF SALAD was unable to complete the hat-trick, but ran well off a mark 8 lb higher and in a better grade, showing once again his ability to handle really deep ground; led, jumped well in main, not fluent 2 out, ridden after, headed home turn, battled well.

SMOOTH STEPPER back down in trip, is a really likeable type and further progress from him is perfectly feasible, especially back over further; prominent, ridden tenth, left behind soon after, plugged on.

UN TEMPS POUR TOUT (IRE) down in trip, was strong in the betting but could only run to a similar level as previously over fences after 9 weeks off, still some way removed from his best form over hurdles, ridden as if further education was required and spared a hard race on very testing ground; raced wide, waited with, effort briefly ninth, left behind soon after, not unduly punished; he's now had 3 runs over fences, qualifying him as a novice for the best handicaps, and it'd be wrong to suggest we've seen the best of him yet as a chaser.

ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE) down in trip, was well held, as he had been on his previous visit to the track; prominent, lost place fourth, rallied briefly ninth, left behind after next.

VIVA STEVE (IRE) was well held, the demands of the fences getting the better of him on a rare outing left handed; prominent, mistakes from halfway, struggling when blundered tenth.

ASTIGOS (FR) had finished runner-up off a lower mark in this last season, but ran no sort of race this time, in blinkers first time (tried in cheekpieces when trained in France), the headgear seeming to have a negative effect; held up, not settle fully, slow sixth, turned it in.

REZORBI (FR) on first outing since leaving Francois Nicolle after 12 weeks off over 4f longer trip, looked on a stiff mark on his French form and shaped quite well prior to his departure, though likely to have finished well held, given he looked as if the race would bring him on; held up, mistake fifth, headway eighth, ridden 3 out, held in fifth when fell next; remains open to improvement over fences.

JOHNNY OG after just 7 days off, just wasn't in same form as last time, more patiently ridden and showing his less willing side, whether he's of much interest off this much higher mark in doubt anyway; waited with, hit fourth, bad mistake seventh, pulled up after, downed tools.

IMAGINE THE CHAT was clearly the more fancied of his owner's 2 runners but ran no sort of race, in common with a few on the card from the same yard; held up, mistake sixth, labouring soon after, pulled up straight; had looked promising and likely to be best judged on early efforts when next seen.

KILRONAN HIGH (IRE) jumped even worse than she had here last time; held up, jumped poorly, labouring fifth, pulled up 3 out.

REGAL ENCORE (IRE) is building a distinctly patchy record over fences, but few would have recovered from the sort of mistake he made at the fifth and he wasn't punished once he dropped away; handy, not settle fully, bad mistake fifth, lost place eighth, pulled up before last; his jumping needs to come together before he can be considered as especially interesting in good-quality handicaps over fences.