CHELTENHAM 15:00

All 9 ran. Fences: 32.

Time: 8m 32.6s Closing Sectional: (3.90f): 59.80s (110.8%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 116%, Betfair SP 100.3%

Perhaps the most anticipated cross-country clash since McGregor The Third won the inaugural running at Cheltenham 25 years ago, but it totally failed to materialise, Tiger Roll clearly not himself and Easysland jumping sketchily and not going with the same zest as previously; that left Potters Corner and 6 runners well out of the weights, the only one of those 7 with previous experience of a race on the track coming out on top, the form probably of no consequence in the wider scheme; as so often, the race developed over the line of fences after the second Aintree fence, that obstacle back after being omitted the last twice over the course.

KINGSWELL THEATRE after 8 months off, made the most of his experience of the track to gain a second win in this race, further out of the weights than any and this an even bigger surprise than the first had been, in 2017, his effort in marked contrast to most of his last season; led, clear until eighth, jumped well in main (slow eighteenth), went with zest, kicked on twenty-seventh, shaken up after 2 out, won readily; he'll presumably be back for the next meeting, this run having little bearing outside cross-country races.

BEAU DU BRIZAIS (FR) not quite so far out of the weights as the winner, took to the singular demands of the track really well, though as so often the finish was rather lacking, likely to become a regular here after this effort, whether he will ever come up the run-in well enough to achieve a win open to doubt; handy, travelled well, chased leader from tenth, ridden approaching last, not quicken final 1f.

POTTERS CORNER (IRE) ran respectably after 11 months off, too much of a stayer for this test on just good to soft going and taking a while to adapt to the demands of the track as well; held up, labouring fourteenth, headway twenty-seventh, ridden after, stayed on straight, never nearer; he might well do better here another time, particularly on softer ground.

EASYSLAND (FR) was below form in his bid for an 8-timer, off since winning so impressively here in March, possibly the ground not testing enough for him, his jumping also not so slick as it has been here previously, perhaps significant that he wasn't at all fluent either time over the Aintree fence, an obstacle omitted both times he won here last season; waited with, jumped sketchily, mistake twenty-seventh, next, outpaced after, plugged on straight; may well prove a different proposition back on soft/heavy ground.

VIVAS (FR) performed in total contrast to last time, the new test sparking something in him, for he went through the race so much more sweetly, just stretched by the longer trip late on; handy, travelled well, closing when mistake 2 out, ridden straight, weakened run-in.

KINGS TEMPTATION upped in trip, ran respectably, though without getting competitive at all, probably enough in his effort to consider another try over the course; held up, mistake twenty-sixth, outpaced after, stayed on straight, never involved.

LITTLE BRUCE (IRE) was well held, too much of a stayer for this particular test; chased leader, outpaced twenty-fifth.

TIGER ROLL (IRE) clearly wasn't himself, sweating beforehand and never going with any zest, though he hadn't travelled in his outing on the Flat last month either and it's not altogether surprising that there was talk of retirement afterwards, a shame if this proves the farewell for one of the modern jumping greats, particularly as he was denied a shot at a third Grand National back in the spring; held up, not fluent tenth, twelfth, labouring badly soon after, pulled up eighteenth.

VINO ROYALE (FR) successful 5 times over fences at up to 29f in France, made little impact on his first try over this course; in rear, pushed along twenty-seventh, left behind soon after, mistake 4 out, pulled up straight, reportedly lame.