CHELTENHAM 14:15

Non Runners: FARINET (FR). Fences: 16. Race Distance Adjustment: +66 yds

Time: 5m 0s Closing Sectional: (3.75f): 57s (96.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 124%, Betfair SP 102.4%

Decidedly muddling closing stages rendered this race a tricky one to read but, that aside, this was a Paddy Power that, in terms of depth, brought to mind famed renewals from earlier in the century won by the likes of Cyfor Malta, Exotic Dancer and Our Vic, about half a dozen of this field likely to have been favourite in a more ordinary year and many of them right in the picture at the line after the fall of last year's winner Coole Cody 2 out had left Midnight Shadow in a clear lead, one he wasn't far from squandering as he wobbled while others only then were getting going, the winner having never been far away from a pace that had been unrelenting on ground that, regardless, wasn't testing enough to turn it into a full-on slog.

MIDNIGHT SHADOW built on his promising return in the Old Roan as he recorded his first handicap chase win in one of the very biggest in the calendar, an effort surpassing anything he'd done before, things getting desperate late on but only after he'd done everything right otherwise; never far away, he loomed up still going strongly - despite having had to squeeze between rivals after 3 out - on the home turn and looked set to take Coole Cody's measure in any case when that rival's fall (as Champ's had in the Dipper here in his novice season) left him in front at the next, fully 10 lengths clear when stumbling badly on landing at the last but ending up all out as he tied up, exhausted at the line; he ran into a freakish winner in the December Gold Cup in 2020 and, whilst he endured a hard race here in the chaotic run to the line, he won't go up as much as he might otherwise have done as a result.

PROTEKTORAT (FR) cemented his status as a high-class young chaser pitched in deep for his first handicap over fences, picking right up where he'd left off under similarly patient tactics in the Manifesto in the spring, well suited by the demands of this setup for all he threw in an early blunder (belted fifth), fluent otherwise and finishing well having found himself a little way back as Coole Cody and Midnight Shadow pressed on, still only fourth crossing 2 out but finishing well to reduce his deficit to the legless winner to the tune of around 8 lengths on the run-in; he's got Ryanair written all over him, even if a placing is the best he could possibly manage if Allaho returns the same devastating force he'd proved in the race last season.

LALOR (GER) ultimately shaped well starting out for a new, all-conquering yard (from Kayley Woollacott), seemingly not the speed-laden quickener of old but certainly getting his career right back on track tried tongue tied following the obligatory Nicholls breathing operation; settled in mid-division, he wasn't able to accelerate when asked after 3 out but came home to good effect in the end, having been only fifth crossing the last; it isn't out of the question he sharpens up for this, either, making its equivalent at the December meeting here an appealing target.

DOSTAL PHIL (FR) ended up resuming his progress after 7 months off but hardly went like a horse who'd spent his novice season primarily at 2m, perhaps found out for lack of sharpness above all returning in such a cut-throat handicap; mid-division, baulked tenth, outpaced between 4 out and 3 out, off pace still next and only seventh crossing last, best work finish to run into frame.

GALAHAD QUEST (FR) is well worth another chance from this sort of mark, not seen to best effect under waiting rides on either start this season, both of which have taken place in higher-grade handicaps than he need contest; patiently ridden, still plenty to do approaching 3 out, stayed on gradually straight.

ZANZA (IRE) went some way to backing up his Haldon Gold Cup effort on the book back from his correct mark but was the most laboured among the small group who ended up closing in when the race was all but over, all despite his wealth of form at shorter; mid-division, lost place halfway, labouring badly after 4 out, behind still home turn, merely closed up late.

SIMPLY THE BETTS (IRE) shaped as if as good as ever on his first outing since leaving Harry Whittington after 12 months off (predictably had breathing operation during absence), seemingly not so cherry-ripe as his fellow stable first-timer ahead; led briefly early, chased leader until fifth, tracked pace after, ridden when left second 2 out and still in that position after last before faltering final 100 yds; he may edge closer to the mark (149) from which he won the Festival Plate here as a novice after this as well, making him another likely type if asked to go again in the December Gold Cup.

MANOFTHEMOUNTAIN (IRE) saw things out better with his reappearance under his belt but had to settle for a far more minor role in a higher-calibre handicap, testament to an average mark; tracked pace, lost ground 4 out, shaken up from next, not quicken; vulnerable to less-exposed sorts.

SPIRITOFTHEGAMES (IRE) wasn't close to repeating last year's runner-up finish (when splitting Coole Cody and Al Dancer) with cheekpieces re-enlisted but probably remains in form, his usual tactics proving harder to pull off compared to on more testing ground in 2020, appearing to finish with more to give.

CARIBEAN BOY (FR) wasn't beaten all that far - not many of the finishers were - returning from 7 months off but didn't shape all that well, nothing like the same zip in this as there had been in his reappearance win last season; baulked sixth, tenth, ridden when carried head awkwardly from 4 out, never better than mid-field.

DEYRANN DE CARJAC (FR) isn't so good, reliable or robust nowadays, never any sort of factor back from another 5 months off; dropped out, behind shaken up still 3 out, merely closed up late.

PAINT THE DREAM shaped much better than the bare result faced with his toughest task yet, having fitness on side but, like Simply The Betts ahead, nearly walking as he passed the line having been in the firing line for most of the way; tracked pace, chased leader fifth, ridden approaching straight, held when disputed third last, faltered badly run-in.

ASO (FR) was taken off his feet after 7 months off, returning at a shorter trip/away from bad ground and without headgear, albeit ending up beaten a similar margin as when he'd finished seventh in this in 2020; mid-division, out wide, outpaced from before halfway, rallied briefly 4 out, left behind gradually; even under more suitable circumstances he's closing in on 3 years without a win, however.

UP THE STRAIGHT (IRE) faced a much stiffer task in this grade of handicap and, awkward at the second, was never involved.

AL DANCER (FR) proved a rare reappearance let-down this autumn for his up-and-coming yard (not always fluent and labouring in mid-field from 4 out), all the more disappointing considering he'd finished third to Coole Cody in this race in 2020 from a mark 5 lb higher when with Nigel Twiston-Davies.

FUNKY DADY (FR) was found out in better company; awkward second, always behind.

BELARGUS (FR) dived at the first and fell returning from 7 months off.

COOLE CODY (IRE) teed up by a sound return over timber, seemed set for second at worst in his bid for a repeat win in this when crashing out at a fence (2 out) that had also prompted fun and games on the opening day of the meeting, soon going with his trademark enthusiasm in front and, though looking set to be taken by Midnight Shadow, still just about in front and fully 10 lengths clear of the eventual second at the time.

NIETZSCHE fit from the Flat, ran badly; raced well off the pace, jumped ponderously, tailed off when refused 3 out.