KEMPTON PARK 15:05

Non Runners: THISTLECRACK. Fences: 18.

Time: 6m 10.1s Closing Sectional: (2.5f): 39.2s (98.3%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 111%, Betfair SP 100.9%

The joint-smallest field for the mid-season highlight of the chasing calendar this century, matching the 5 that went to post in 2016, the winner that day Thistlecrack an absentee here due to a minor injury, joining Altior - switched to the Desert Orchid already before an abcess ruled him out of that - on the sidelines, the race still promising much, with Altior's conqueror Cyrname and the Betfair Chase winner Lostintranslation in opposition, though neither ran anywhere near their best, the performance of the winner taking but hard to weigh up, given he was the only one of the 5 to show his form, every chance, though, that the winning margin flatters him.

CLAN DES OBEAUX (FR) was right back to the form that had seen him win this last season, loads to like about the effort even if the race rather fell apart, superior stamina a key part in his success, though he travelled smoothly, as he so often does; held up, travelled well, went second twelfth, led on bridle before 2 out, shaken up after, clear last, kept on well, ridden out; he shaped better than the distances suggest when fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season before seeming not to stay and, a year older, he'd obviously be worth another try in the race, the chance that he will stay better another time.

CYRNAME (FR) failed to meet expectations, not seeing out the longer trip under testing conditions, though not going with quite his usual zest either, ridden with slightly more restraint, probably not in quite the same form as at Ascot even before lack of stamina kicked in; tracked pace, jumped fluently, travelled well, led sixth, headed before 2 out, not fluent there, weakened soon after, finished tired; hopefully, this will prove just to be a blip and he'll bounce back, presumably in the Ascot Chase if not before.

FOOTPAD (FR) upped in trip, was below form, looking a fairly obvious non-stayer, even if he had something to prove back at this level; held up, travelled well, took closer order after 4 out, shaken up before 3 out, found little; he may yet confirm the promise of his return when back down in trip.

ASO (FR) was well held, quite hard to fancy on his form this season anyway and not really seeing the race out, either, his form at 3m coming under conditions placing emphasis on speed more than stamina; led, mistake fourth, headed sixth, not fluent eleventh, left behind after 4 out.

LOSTINTRANSLATION (IRE) turned in a lacklustre display, not going with anything like his usual verve and his jumping rather letting him down in the back straight, reported to have a breathing problem; tracked pace, steadied into fifth, pushed along briefly eleventh, headway when mistake thirteenth, third when clouted 4 out, folded tamely, pulled up straight; he seems a candidate for a wind operation and will hopefully get back on the up when he returns, with presumably a Gold Cup trial on the agenda next if all is well.