CHELTENHAM 14:30

Non Runners: ATTAGLANCE. Fences: 16.

Time: 5m 25.5s

Overrounds: Industry SP 130%, Betfair SP 101.7%

What appeared a typically competitive renewal of this prestigious early-season prize was more than a little spoiled by an unusually slack pace that ensured there was nothing like the same emphasis on stamina or jumping as is usually the case, as many as 12 covered by a mere 10 lengths crossing the second last, the finish about as congested as it gets and a million miles away from the strung-out fields in such recent renewals as those won by Great Endeavour and Al Ferof; as a result, the form promises to prove muddling for all plenty are bound to make their presence felt in other big handicaps, a potentially significant sidenote the apparent disadvantage to those who raced towards the inside, nothing going wider than the first 2 for all their efforts are clearly easy enough to explain.

CAID DU BERLAIS (FR) just about the least exposed of these as a chaser, brought his chasing form right in line with his best hurdles efforts fitted with a first-time tongue strap after 4 months off, the big-field chase experience of the Galway Plate evidently not lost on him, though a race that tested speed over stamina - and placed less pressure on jumping than normal - also played to his strengths, albeit doing well to make up the ground he did to collar the course specialist in second, like that rival racing very wide; waited with, crept closer 4 out, effort from 2 out, 4 lengths down in fourth crossing last, quickened very well on run-in to lead near finish, value a couple of lengths extra despite the possible advantages held generally on the day; the chances are the December Gold Cup back here - assuming that's his target - won't develop quite so well for him.

JOHNS SPIRIT (IRE) is in his element here and produced yet another career best in failing so narrowly to land back-to-back runnings of this race (fully 17 lb higher this time around), his potent turn of foot - not to mention trademark wide path - ideal the way the race developed ahead and almost proving decisive; patiently ridden, crept closer around halfway, quickened to lead approaching last, kept on well but collared dying strides by a well-treated rival; the way he's going, he'll be a contender for the Ryanair rather than a handicap by the time March comes around.

PRESENT VIEW shaped really encouragingly back over fences, a 7 lb higher mark than for his Festival success in March unlikely to prove a barrier to further success based on this, something of a sitting duck to a pair of quickeners when it mattered, likely to have benefited from having more use made of his stamina/jumping for all that would have brought several others into contention, too; disputed lead, jumped impeccably, jumped on 3 out, headed approaching last and unable to quicken, hard though he tried; remains with potential, and sure to be of significant interest if back here next month for the International Meeting.

OSCAR WHISKY (IRE) showed plenty of ability remains after 8 months off but was almost certainly helped by the surprising lack of emphasis on jumping back in a bigger field, taken wide to boot, suited by the way the race developed in those senses; mid-field, kept mistakes to minimum, went prominent sixth, every chance when not fluent, baulked 2 out, lost place there, rallied well run-in; it's likely to pay to keep in mind his past jumping issues when assessing his chance next time.

BUYWISE (IRE) looked to have been let off lightly by handicapper and promises to prove the point another day, doing little to dent his positive profile in a race that, above all, didn't go his way; in rear, mistakes second and ninth (but generally more fluent than often), shaken up after 4 out, still plenty to do entering straight, stayed on to be nearest finish but damage already done having already been left poorly placed; remains with the potential to improve beyond handicaps, and worth backing to make amends in the interim.

SHANPALLAS (IRE) highlighted his ongoing well-being - plus versatility in terms of trip - with another sound effort from an inflated BHA mark, value another length or 2 over the result to boot; mid-division, travelled smoothly, effort when shaken up approaching 2 out, every chance when mistake last (which cost him ground/momentum), one paced thereafter.

CHAMPION COURT (IRE) in first-time cheekpieces, showed he still has something to offer but a 2013/14 season blighted by disappointments casts doubt on whether he'll get even closer to his best next time; prominent, upsides from eighth, lost place briefly 3 out, rallied well home turn, one paced between last 2.

EDGARDO SOL (FR) shaped encouragingly for the second time in as many starts since returning, quite likely worth a good bit extra for attempting to make his effort on the opposite side of the track to where the finish developed, seemingly a real struggle for those who did the same; mid-division, shuffled back twelfth, smooth headway again 3 out, challenged inside straight, not sustain effort; he could well still have a smart effort in him.

KING MASSINI (IRE) wasn't up to the task above all back over fences; mid-division, shaken up after eleventh, plugged on from end of back straight, made little impression.

ERICHT (IRE) shaped better than the distance beaten suggests, though even in a race that placed unusually little pressure on jumping for this track he let himself down; tracked pace, not fluent 4 out, good progress pushed along after next, every chance entering straight, mistakes last 2, no extra.

INDIAN CASTLE (IRE) offered much more hope than the bare result might imply on first outing since leaving Donald McCain after 8 months off, opting for the 'wrong' route as the dash for home began; handy, outpaced before 3 out, rallied approaching home turn, kept on inside straight and, like others, unable to sustain effort, despite in his case having plenty of form over further.

CEDRE BLEU (FR) made little appeal on paper for a race of this nature on the back of his yard debut and never landed a blow having reverted to patient tactics.

CANTLOW (IRE) came to hand early last season but doesn't appear to have repeated the feat, running no better than on his return, not jumping well and never on terms.

PERSIAN SNOW (IRE) is clearly much better than this, as he'd shown here first time back (weighted to beat Johns Spirit on that form), taking a seemingly misguided route as those positioned wider dominated; handy, shuffled back before twelfth, rallied approaching 3 out, in contention end of back straight, kept on inside straight, weakened.

ORPHEUS VALLEY (IRE) faced a much stiffer task in this grade of handicap after 3 months off and, having disputed the lead, had dropped to rear by 4 out, his jumping having been less than fluent.

EASTLAKE (IRE) shaped better than the bare result, just not seeing things out at all having made a brief effort after 3 out, lack of stamina and an inside route possible excuses, though he was fitted with a first-time tongue strap.

EASTER METEOR usually a front runner, failed to meet expectations ridden differently (sat mid-field) on first outing since leaving Emma Lavelle after 8 months off, a run that might be easy enough to ignore (especially as he didn't look fully wound up beforehand) were it not for the fact he was fitted with a tongue tie and stopped to nothing once pushed along after 3 out.

KAPGA DE CERISY (FR) after 12 months off, was fatally injured; close up, lost place eleventh, bad mistake 4 out, went wrong.