CHELTENHAM 14:10

All 10 ran. Fences: 22.

Time: 6m 48.9s

Overrounds: Industry SP 111%, Betfair SP 104.3%

Quite a valuable staying handicap chase but there are plenty of options in the coming weeks for the pool of horses this race would attract and it didn't have quite the depth or quality usually associated with similar events at Cheltenham, only Hadrian's Approach anywhere near the ceiling BHA rating, and half of the field were running from out of the weights; Benbane Head made most but it appeared to be a fair test.

BENBANE HEAD (USA) produced a surprisingly assured round of jumping to win for the first time over fences in well over 3 years, back to his very best in form terms; soon led, kept mistakes to minimum, ridden 3 out, edged right run-in, responded well; the suspicion is that he won't reproduce all aspects of this performance next time.

THE OULD LAD (IRE) was 9 lb higher than at Leicester, out of the weights even under a penalty, and ran well, doing enough to suggest that he's still improving as barely seemed to stay this 2f longer trip on a stiff track, either that or recent exertions were telling late on; held up, travelled strongly, headway around halfway, blundered 4 out, left second next, looked a big threat 2 out but could never quite get to winner and tied up final 100 yds; he's already made good progress this season and remains open to improvement.

COWARDS CLOSE (IRE) one of the least exposed in the field, having his first run in a handicap chase here, and it was a good effort returning from 7 months off; mid-division, pushed along 4 out, not fluent 2 out, kept on; may yet do better.

CHARINGWORTH (IRE) was undone by rise in the weights but continues in good heart; chased leaders, travelled better than most, blundered ninth, shuffled back, driven before 2 out, one paced; as mentioned last time, there's always the option of veterans handicaps for him, which will generally take less winning.

PIGEON ISLAND isn't quite the force that he was even this time last year and ran about as well as could be expected from out of the handicap here; chased leaders, ridden before 5 out, plugged on.

HADRIAN'S APPROACH (IRE) might have needed the run after 8 months off and didn't appear to have a hard race, with connections no doubt having bigger targets in mind for later in the season; held up, struggling after 5 out, never landed a blow but wasn't knocked about.

LAMB OR COD (IRE) has really struggled in a much more competitive environment the last twice, jumping none too fluently this day and never on terms.

SAMSTOWN had reportedly missed an engagement at Sandown the weekend before due to his blood not being right and ran as if not 100% here; mid-division, off the bridle before most, beaten 5 out.

STANDING OVATION (IRE) was refitted with headgear and it seemed to have a positive effect, in the process of running well when falling 3 out, still holding second place at the time and only just starting to be niggled, set to finish in the frame at least.

SHATTERED DREAM (IRE) disappointed after showing something to work on on last month's stable debut; chased leaders, lost place early final circuit, labouring badly sixteenth.