CHELTENHAM 15:30 2e3y4x

Non Runners: BOOTHILL (IRE), JONBON (FR). Fences: 13. Race Distance Adjustment: +12 yds

Time: 4m 12s Closing Sectional: (3.75f): 61s (97.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 113%, Betfair SP 99.6%

The withdrawal of Jonbon due to the poor form of a lot of his stable's runners on the first day of the meeting seemingly deprived the race of the only threat to his old rival El Fabiolo, but the fences got in the way as he ed Douvan as a 9/2-on beaten favourite in this and, in a well-run race, others fell by the wayside as well, leaving the finish to be contested by a pair that had been well behind the favourite in the Dublin Chase last time out, the form average at best in a race that has had more than it share of renewals that failed to deliver in the last few years; the pace was good, the pace-setting Edwardstone on the retreat when he departed 2 out and likely to have run a below-par third.

CAPTAIN GUINNESS (IRE) finally won a Grade 1 after making the frame 8 times in such races, inferior to the likes of Energumene, El Fabiolo and Jonbon but able to take advantage of their absence/failure to complete on this occasion, not having to better the pick of his form to do so against a rival with a similar profile; in touch, travelled well, went second 4 out, led straight, looked in control last, idled run-in, edged right, ridden out.

GENTLEMAN DE MEE (FR) who sweated up beforehand, ran well under a change of tactics, contesting his seventh successive Grade 1 chase, deserving credit for consistency since his Dublin Chase win last season, though as his record suggests he's vulnerable against the very best in the division; in rear, travelled well, ridden after 3 out, left second 2 out, kept on run-in.

FUNAMBULE SIVOLA (FR) looks a shadow of the horse he was, but he's picked up 80 grand for turning up and getting around on his last 2 starts, so all credit to his connections for that; handy, raced freely, lost place ninth, tailed off 3 out.

EDWARDSTONE tried to repeat the tactics that had worked so well at Newbury, but he probably went a little faster than ideal and was on the retreat when he came down, likely to have run a fair way below his best; led, went with zest, shaken up after 3 out, headed straight, weakening when fell 2 out.

EL FABIOLO (FR) held outstanding claims, all the more so in the absence of Jonbon, but he fluffed his lines for the first time over fences; in touch, not fluent first, bad mistake fifth, pulled up.

ELIXIR DE NUTZ (FR) wasn't in anything like the same form as last time, perhaps finding the ground softer than ideal; pressed leader early, tracked pace after, pushed along 4 out, dropped away soon after, pulled up straight.