CHELTENHAM 12:05

All 9 ran. Fences: 17. Race Distance Adjustment: +95 yds

Time: 5m 22.8s Closing Sectional: (3.84f): 56.9s (103.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 116%, Betfair SP 102.4%

A familiar tale in 2½m chases on the New Course at this time of year, with prominent-racers dominating and those held up at a disadvantage, all of which puts the winner's performance in an even better light - indeed, Jordans Cross looks to hold good claims of enhancing the Timeform race's excellent record of producing subsequent Cheltenham Festival winners, with stable-companion Kdeux Saint Fray another to consider if making it into a field here in March.

JORDANS CROSS (IRE) will be worth noting in a Cheltenham Festival handicap, the last-gasp nature of his latest 2 wins likely to keep him ahead of the handicapper for a while yet, deserving extra credit here after conceding first run, finding plenty to overhaul both placed horses on the run-in, his jumping having again been largely assured; he'll stay much further than this when given the chance.

QUEBECOIS (FR) resumed progress back down in trip, well positioned given how things panned out but still shaping like one who'll go on to even better things; never far away, he jumped accurately throughout and briefly looked in control after taking over between the last 2, the winner's strong late surge just denying him.

SCORSESE (IRE) enjoyed the run of things but still ran well up 5 lb for his Sedgefield win; he jumped fluently and made most until between the last 2, finding no extra only late on.

KDEUX SAINT FRAY (FR) remains worth following, likely to have finished significantly closer but for being caught behind the fading Kaline des Boullat when the race was taking shape, rallying well from 2 out and finishing with running left; his jumping wasn't foot perfect at times but isn't a major concern and he's still open to improvement just 4 starts into his chasing career.

CALIFET EN VOL (IRE) has yet to live up to market expectations in this sphere, patiently ridden switched to handicap company and unable to sustain his effort after an untidy leap 2 out (fourth at time).

SECRET DES DIEUX (FR) shaped as if potentially ahead of his mark but was again found wanting in the latter stages, the trip possibly stretching him; patiently ridden, he was going well in touch when hitting 5 out (jumped okay otherwise) and also when not getting a clear run briefly on the home turn, weakening late on.

PUSH THE BUTTON (IRE) was disappointing upped to a trip which should have suited; mid-division, jumped none too fluently, lost place twelfth, no threat straight.

BARLOVENTO (IRE) is worth another chance to back up his Kempton form, being dropped out counting against him given how things panned out, the fact all of his yard's runners on this card underperformed offering another excuse.

KALINE DES BOULLAT (FR) isn't the biggest and found this first experience of British fences all too much, beaten by the home turn after a none-too-fluent round (notably bad mistake twelfth) of jumping.