CHELTENHAM 16:00

Non Runners: SPILLANE'S TOWER (IRE). Fences: 22.

Time: 6m 39.2s Closing Sectional: (3.84f): 56.5s (103.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 114%, Betfair SP 100.5%

A Cheltenham Gold Cup in which the 2 most notable absentees were trained by Willie Mullins, the previous dual winner Galopin des Champs scratched the previous weekend after a set-back and Fact To File aimed at the Ryanair the day before but withdrawn at the eleventh hour, yet the training powerhouse was still able to land the prize with Gaelic Warrior, a fifth win in the race for the trainer, all since 2019, the Festival again demonstrating his dominance of the jumping scene at the top level, outscoring the rest of the Irish stables combined over the 4 days, with 7 of the yard's 8 wins at Grade 1 level, only the Stayers' Hurdle eluding him of the 4 most prestigious prizes; Gaelic Warrior represented Fact To File's form and on this showing there's little between the pair, his winning effort a career-best and one well up to the recent standard for the Gold Cup, the race run in a good time and the form having a solid look to it, even if a couple of the more fancied British-trained runners left the impression they were amiss, that the home team managed 5 runners, including 4 with serious claims, a step forward on recent seasons, British stables overall holding their own at the meeting admittedly with handicap success skewing that, to the extent the Prestbury Cup went down to the one conventional open handicap run all week to head back to Ireland.

GAELIC WARRIOR (GER) just about the form pick on his defeat of Fact To File in the John Durkan, stepped up further on that effort, seeing out the longer distance with some ease despite having been on his toes beforehand and taken a while to settle in the race, a third meeting with Fact To File a hard one to call, Punchestown the likely setting for that clash, a race to savour in the spring; never far away, jumped soundly, keen early and led briefly after second, settled in behind leaders after, travelling strongly, led on bridle entering straight, quickened clear, in command last, pushed along run-in, kept on well, impressive; it's sometimes tough to keep a horse at this high level, but Gaelic Warrior's trainer has 2 previous back-to-back Gold Cup winners to his name and there must be a good chance he will be a third.

JANGO BAIE (FR) last season's Arkle winner and just behind Gaelic Warrior in the King George, matched that latter effort on his first try at the Gold Cup trip, just unable to live with the winner in the straight but sticking to his task, in touch, took keen hold, went handy before halfway, effort when not fluent 4 out, took second next, left behind by winner, kept on run-in; he wasn't at his best at Aintree last season after his win here, so there is some question whether he will be at his peak should he go there for the Bowl next month.

INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN (IRE) was fitted with cheekpieces in an attempt to recapture the form that had taken him to success in the Gold Cup last March and he turned in his best effort of the season, far from convincing the way he shaped but still doing easily best of those held up; in rear, jumped sketchily, never travelling well, labouring after 4 out, stayed on 2 out, took third run-in, never landed a blow.

GREY DAWNING (IRE) successful in the last running of the Golden Miller as a Grade 1 novice, ran respectably on his second appearance at the meeting, essentially not good enough, his exertions taking their toll late on; went with zest, led first, remained prominent, mistakes fifteenth and sixteenth, shaken up home turn, second when not fluent 2 out, weakened last; he's entered in the Grand National, though another crack at the Bowl would seem a more obvious option, runner-up in the race last season.

L'HOMME PRESSE (FR) fourth in the 2024 renewal, had turned in 3 solid efforts when runner-up on his 3 previous starts this season but he just wasn't on a going day, unable to lay up as usual and a bit flattered to take fifth; raced off the pace, went in snatches, lost touch after seventeenth, tailed off 3 out, merely passed beaten horses.

FIREFOX (IRE) had shown improved form when stepped up to 3m for the first time in the Irish Gold Cup but ran a bit below that level over an extra 2f, lack of stamina looking one of the factors in his performance; held up, mistake sixteenth, effort 3 out, some headway entering straight, mistake 2 out, no extra.

GOLD TWEET (FR) faced a stiff task in this company, unconvincing as an out-and-out stayer but essentially just not good enough; patiently ridden, not fluent thirteenth, smooth headway 3 out, effort when untidy 2 out, weakened.

THE JUKEBOX MAN (IRE) who had edged out the first 2 in a tight finish to the King George, was well below that form, reported to have made a respiratory noise, which explains why he found so little; jumped fluently, travelled well, led second, remained prominent, led briefly soon after 3 out, shaken up straight, weakened soon after; he should stay beyond 3m.

ENVOI ALLEN (FR) a grand servant to connections over many seasons, the winner of 17 of his 31 races including the Champion Bumper, Baring Bingham and Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival, met a sad end in what was already set to be his swansong, collapsing and dying after the race; held up, mistake eighteenth, left behind 3 out.

HAITI COULEURS (FR) usually so reliable, has flopped on both attempts at Grade 1 level, unlike at Haydock at least running his race for a long way, the manner in which he dropped out suggesting there was more to it than just the exertions of forcing the pace taking their toll, reported by his rider to have run flat, though that wasn't obvious from the way he went; jumped boldly, led before third, mistake 4 out, driven after, headed soon after 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before last; he's in the Grand National and makes plenty of appeal on balance of form, though this was hardly the ideal prep.