CHELTENHAM 15:20

All 9 ran. Fences: 17. Race Distance Adjustment: +56 yds

Time: 5m 10.2s Closing Sectional: (3.84f): 56.7s (100.8%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 114%, Betfair SP 102.3%

A race still often viewed as an inferior to the Championship races at 2m and 3¼m but one with a habit of eclipsing its revered counterparts, which may well prove the case again with only the Gold Cup standing in the way of the contrary, as Fact To File did what stablemates Allaho, Un de Sceaux and Vautour had done before him in this in the past decade by delivering a complete display that merited being rated right up there with the best performances of the season, the winners from the lesser editions of 2023 and 2024 forced to settle for a remote third and fourth respectively.

FACT TO FILE (FR) produced a first-rate - indeed flawless - performance to justify connections' decision to drop back for the Ryanair having spent the bulk of the season on the standard trail for a Broadway winner heading towards the Cheltenham Gold Cup, making dismantling a Grade 1 field seem remarkably unremarkable as he jumped and travelled superbly stalking a pace not so scorching as expected and then didn't look back after jumping past his apparently main adversary 3 out, so dominant that he was able to be eased late on; another crack at Galopin des Champs will surely follow down the line, maybe even as soon as Punchestown (where Fact To File lowered his colours in the John Durkan), though in terms of next season the rematch may be best kept until the Gold Cup, with a first half of the campaign aimed at a King George making more sense than trying to tackle an opponent so formidable around Leopardstown.

HEART WOOD (FR) proved he isn't quite in the winner's league whilst showing he is of Grade-1 calibre set against more conventional lines, giving a far clearer account of what he can do in a well-run race back down from 3m; waited with, he made good progress 4 out and stayed on all the while in vain pursuit after taking second approaching 2 out, pulling clear of the last 2 winners of this race in the process; he looks an ideal type for the Melling at Aintree if allowed to take his chance so soon (gap only 3 weeks this year).

ENVOI ALLEN (FR) maintained his record of having never finished worse than third when completing across a 7-year span of Festival appearances (first, second and third in this last 3 seasons) that has shone a light on both his consistency and durability, not at quite the same level as at times in the past but near to finishing about as close as he could up against an outstanding winner and a runner-up only recently on the Grade 1 scene, pushed along in fifth before the straight yet keeping at it well enough to have claimed third by the last.

PROTEKTORAT (FR) wasn't nearly the same force as he'd been on testing ground in this last year, unable to uphold positions with Envoi Allen never mind retain his crown, which would have been beyond him even at his best anyway given how much higher a level Fact To File hit in comparison with the 2024 renewal; tracked pace, shaken up before 3 out, not quicken.

MASTER CHEWY (IRE) came up short for ability more than stamina trying this trip for the first time over fences, though there will be other softer graded openings on these shores for him to again pay his way next season; held up, headway under pressure approaching straight, no further impression.

IL EST FRANCAIS (FR) has dazzled on his last 2 visits to Britain but merely gave the latest of so many examples down the years of how potency around Kempton in a King George is no free pass to a successful transition to Cheltenham, not ridden quite so forcefully as might have been expected dropping in trip (didn't lead until jumping on seventh) yet still having nothing left once headed 3 out, losing a further 4 positions in the straight; he'll give Fact To File a bigger scare if they were to meet at Kempton.

DJELO (FR) didn't fire at all for a yard with only one odds-on winner to show for the last 4 weeks or so, his Turners third at the 2024 Festival suggesting the track wasn't sufficient excuse; raced off the pace, lost ground fourth, never going well after, laboured headway 3 out, no further impression, eased off.

HANG IN THERE (IRE) has never won later in a season than November (when the competition rises) and was way out of his depth in any case after 4 months off; soon behind, mistake eighth, lost touch.

JUNGLE BOOGIE (IRE) is better than this but, at this level, found what had started as bold jumping begin to crack once headed, having been a rather surprise leader until the seventh, losing second soon after belting the eleventh before dropping away quickly.