CHELTENHAM 15:30

Non Runners: CHAMP (IRE). Hurdles: 12.

Time: 6m 8.8s Closing Sectional: (3.8f): 54.9s (106.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 121%, Betfair SP 100.4%

A relatively recent addition to the staying hurdle scene in a race full of veterans made up for his misfortune on his first crack at the race in 2023, though another stop-start gallop and resulting bunched finish in behind - plus the proximity of a couple of apparent no-hopers who helped make up a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 for the Irish contingent as the British challenge sunk without trace - merely underlined the position that the division is open at the minute but far from stellar in terms of standard, merely running to his reappearance form enough to see Teahupoo set himself apart late on from a dual previous all-the-way winner who wasn't moved to the front this time until after the fourth.

TEAHUPOO (FR) capitalised on the Champion Hurdle rerouting of the same connections' Irish Point as he confirmed impressions from the Hatton's Grace, crucially kept fresh since (now 5-5 when returning from at least 3 months off) and, heavily backed with conditions having come right as well, forging his way to the lead running to the last and sustaining his run to go clear on the flat, a minor error 2 out as he closed in out wide and a move back inside on the home turn that tightened up Noble Yeats not enough trouble to see a repeat of his less-than-charmed passage in 2023; he's still got youth on his side when so many in the division are at or nearing the end of their career, though so too does Irish Point, which may well signal the start of an Elliott stranglehold at the top of the staying hurdling tree.

FLOORING PORTER (IRE) found an up-and-comer 2 years his junior too good but did all he could under a less gung-ho ride than in 2023, taking his record in the race to 1142 with chasing sensibly shelved following his last couple of runs the other side of the New Year; he didn't adopt his usual front-running position until before the fifth this time and hardly took off even once there, but he'd pressed on by the home turn and just couldn't shake off Teahupoo, already headed and put in his place when crossed and force to switch approaching the last.

HOME BY THE LEE (IRE) returned to his best on his first run since Christmas, a change of headgear (first-time blinkers) adding a spark and the aborting of the front-running role clearly in his favour, claiming the placing this year that a bad mistake had perhaps denied him on his second crack at this in 2023; held up, headway 2 out, not quicken early in straight, wandered before last, rallied.

BUDDY ONE (IRE) surpassed expectations as he left behind his first 2 runs at this level returning from 11 weeks off, putting a cap on a season of progress that began with defeats in handicaps from ITC marks in the mid-high 130s; in touch, effort on inner straight, kept on.

SIRE DU BERLAIS (FR) couldn't add to one of the best Cheltenham Festival records of recent times but had shown there's still plenty left by the end in a race that didn't develop in quite the same advantageous way as the 2023 running, flat out from the eighth and still labouring in last entering the straight only to pass more than half the field from there, finishing with a flourish; still fresh after his delayed comeback, another attempt to defend a Grade 1 crown beckons at Aintree next month.

ASTERION FORLONGE (FR) ran about as well as could be expected after 11 weeks off, his limitations long since exposed; pressed leader, jumped more fluently than usual, led second, headed before fifth, blundered eighth, outpaced home turn.

NOBLE YEATS (IRE) confirmed Cleeve superiority over a couple with cheekpieces back on but was still some way short of adding another notable chapter to his storied career; led until second, tracked pace after, ridden when snatched up entering straight, left behind gradually; this should put him spot on for the Grand National, for which he'll have frame claims again from a mark 1 lb lower than when fourth in 2023.

DASHEL DRASHER did best of the British for the second year in a row but was clearly some way below those 2023 heights in a race that in general gave a sizeable knock to the form of the earlier major graded staying prizes on these shores; tracked pace, lost place when not fluent sixth, driven after 2 out, not quicken.

CRAMBO failed to make the required extra step forward as he trailed in some way behind a fellow 7-y-o who did perform, saving him for this since Ascot before Christmas possibly backfiring given how he'd been thriving on his racing back then; held up, outpaced before 2 out, made little impression.

PAISLEY PARK (IRE) brought the curtain down on a memorable career, one highlighted by his stirring win in the 2019 renewal on his first of a remarkable 6 runs in the race; British jumps racing won't seem quite the same without him.

JANIDIL (FR) made little appeal on recent chasing form and, unproven at the trip as well, didn't get home tried in cheekpieces after 9 weeks off; dropped out, mistake third, some headway home turn, weakened.

SIR GERHARD (IRE) doesn't really have a suitable race at this meeting, 3m not unsurprisingly beyond him after he'd taken a strong hold held up out wide, though he also looked awkward (hung left) when making the brief move that he did.