LEOPARDSTOWN 15:35

Non Runners: NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE), ANIBALE FLY (FR), BALKO DES FLOS (FR), EDWULF, MONALEE (IRE), AL BOUM PHOTO (FR). Fences: 17.

Time: 6m 4.9s Closing Sectional: (4.4f): 62.9s (106.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 109%, Betfair SP 100.8%

Ground-related withdrawals more than halved the original field, leaving a quartet who'd contested the Savills Chase and taking away some of the sheen, with Al Boum Photo's absence especially felt, though the 2 who slugged out a thrilling finish conprised last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth and a winner in Bellshill who took his next step towards establishing himself as a top-class stayer with viable Blue Riband frame hopes.

BELLSHILL (IRE) was spot on with his reappearance under his belt and, in reversing reappearance placings with a Gold Cup fourth with an extremely sure-footed display, put himself right in the picture for this year's renewal himself, certainly nothing in the division boasting sufficiently compelling claims to provide a major fear factor, absent stablemate Al Boum Photo - alongside Kemboy - making up a strong Mullins team in his bid for a belated first win in the big one; he led until the ninth, edged ahead again briefly with further fine leaps at the tenth and 3 out and, having had his full effort delayed slightly, responded well for strong driving to edge ahead near the line, showcasing the stamina that will serve him well in the sterner test provided next month.

ROAD TO RESPECT (IRE) found only a flouishing old rival too good, and even then barely so, all after he'd produced an uncharacteristically sloppy jumping display, firmly suggesting his Gold Cup each-way chance (hit frame 12 months ago when going arguably softer than ideal) is undimmed; content to chase Bellshill early, he made his first of 3 mistakes at the seventh, led a couple of fences later and dug deep once tackled even after the other blunders at the tenth and 3 out, worn down only at the death.

THE STORYTELLER (IRE) had something to find with the front pair (behind both time before) and ran as well as could be expected; tracked pace, ridden 2 out, left behind gradually; he'll remain much harder to place than last season.

OUTLANDER (IRE) has become all the more unpredictable; in touch, went in snatches, struggling from 4 out.