A decent contest for the course, and it unearthed a couple of useful sorts in the form of IDOLE FIRST and Nycetos. A 145-rated hurdler and winner of last season's Coral Cup, Idole First was disappointing when only sixth in a good race behind Green Tango and Don't Be Shy at Hereford on his chasing debut where the soft ground appeared the obvious excuse, but he was a winner in very soft going in his younger days in France, and had finished second in heavy conditions at Uttoxeter last season, so was clearly capable of handling some give. Content to chase early leader Nycetos, he lost his position following several slow jumps, but quickly made headway once asked by O'Keeffe, and was driven up the favourite's inner to dispute it turning for home. Having won over 2m5f at the Festival last season, he was always going to be doing his best work late and he stayed on too strongly for the five-year-old. A versatile sort with regards to trip and ground, there should be better to come, and he may make a quick reappearance in a novice chase at Fontwell at the weekend, but his long-term target is likely to be the Jewson novices' handicap chase at Cheltenham, where the likely strong pace and uphill finish will again hold no fears.

ion of this effort should see him find a race, and two and a half miles may well bring about some improvement.

Medison looked far from enthusiastic in defeat at Fontwell and, having recovered from being hampered to track the front two approaching the turn-in, he found absolutely nothing. He is one to avoid.

Handy Money, a useful hurdler launching a chase career rather late in life, was never jumping with any fluency and looked very tired when pulled up before the second-last.

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