CHELTENHAM 15:30

Non Runners: DEDIGOUT (IRE), THE NEW ONE (IRE), UN TEMPS POUR TOUT (IRE), YANWORTH. Hurdles: 12.

Time: 5m 49.8s Closing Sectional: (7.1f): 101.9s (101.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 119%, Betfair SP 99.5%

Having dominated this division in Britain, Unowhatimeanharry set a fairly high standard for this year's Stayers', rated 6 lb ahead of the field coming into the race, but him aside they were a closely-matched bunch and, with him not performing quite to his best, it took less winning than might have been the case; nevertheless, the rating achieved by Nichols Canyon is still up there with recent standards and the form looks reasonably solid with the Long Walk runner-up, Lil Rockerfeller, and previous winner of this race, Cole Harden, part of the quartet that pulled clear; it was a soundly-run race, even tactically, although the winner was given the ideal ride as Walsh sat back and let the other principals battle before making his challenge last of all.

NICHOLS CANYON is unexposed as a stayer, this only his second try at 3m, and he relished it, more so than he'd seemed to when sent to the US last May, perhaps just not in peak form that day in hindsight, and though not emphatic he was back to his high-class best to land the most prestigious of his 8 Grade 1s to date under a very well-judged ride, Walsh mindful not to be aggressive with him over this far; held up, travelled fluently, good headway after 2 out, stayed on to lead on the flat, driven out; he's extremely versatile, already a Grade 1 winner at 2m this season after all, but in the Championship races this is likely to remain his trip, away from the testing ground at least, with the division generally a bit weaker, and given he's only 7 there's plenty more mileage in him.

LIL ROCKERFELLER (USA) has had surprisingly few tries at 3m considering how well he stays and, freshened up by a 10-week break since below form in the Relkeel, he posted a career best, pegged back only by a multiple Grade 1 winner who received an exemplary ride, losing nothing in defeat, and if he'd kept straight at the last and on the run-in he might have held on; never far away, chased leader approaching 3 out, led soon after 2 out, jumped left last, wandered, headed on the flat and then kept on again, giving his all; Aintree may come soon but he's likely to go to Punchestown.

UNOWHATIMEANHARRY had a flawless record over the last 2 seasons, having accounted for most of the field at least once on recent starts, including the runner-up in the Long Walk, but unlike Lil Rockerfeller, who raised his game, he wasn't quite at his best for some reason, looking in the zone for 95% of the race and delivered to challenge by Fehily only to find less than usual, still by no means disgraced; mid-division, travelled well, headway seventh, tracked pace 3 out, chased leader after 2 out, every chance last, edged right, one paced; although a 9-y-o, he doesn't have that many miles on the clock, certainly not over-raced since joining Harry Fry, and he'll still be a force in these top staying races next season, whilst nearer to hand both Aintree and Punchestown give opportunities for compensation.

COLE HARDEN (IRE) wasn't able to repeat his 2015 win in this race, this a stronger renewal, but he ran well, much better than when filling the same spot 12 months ago, confirming his return to form; led, ridden after 3 out, headed soon after 2 out, held when jumped left last, one paced.

SNOW FALCON (IRE) wasn't disgraced but was beaten further than looked likely most of the way, possibly just finding the race a bit too competitive, with the Irish staying form generally not holding up here; mid-division, mistake 4 out, chased leaders before 2 out, tied up before last.

CLONDAW WARRIOR (IRE) has been competitive all season in the top Irish staying events but this was a bigger ask and found him out; held up, mistakes sixth, seventh, some headway after 2 out, weakened before last.

ZARKANDAR (IRE) had everything right at Haydock last time, with a small field and flat track, and this underlines that he's not up to it at this level nowadays; held up, took closer order seventh, untidy 3 out, effort 2 out, weakened before last.

JEZKI (IRE) didn't get home faced with a more severe test at this trip than when beating Hurricane Fly (himself not a stayer) at Punchestown in 2015, shaping better than the distance beaten suggests; in rear, travelled well, headway 2 out, in touch home turn but found little, the emphasis on stamina all too much for him.

AGRAPART (FR) found this too competitive and is possibly a bit flattered by his rating from the Relkeel (standout effort) in rear, jumped none too fluently, outpaced 3 out, made no impression.

SHANESHILL (IRE) had been runner-up at this meeting for each of the past 3 years but failed to give his running this time around, clearly not 100% on the day; mid-division, weakened after 2 out, pulled up before last, possibly amiss.

WEST APPROACH shaped as if amiss; chased leaders, flattened 2 out, dropped away quickly and was pulled up before the last, something not right.

BALLYOPTIC (IRE) in first-time tongue strap, clearly wasn't 100% on the day; chased leaders, made mistakes, ridden between 3 out and 2 out, weakened, behind when pulled up before last.