Take The Stand hit 1st, chased leaders 10th, led 13th, left with definite advatage when close 2nd and 3rd fell 4 out, challenged from 2 out until narrowly headed last, rallied gamely run-in and soon led, all out

Merchants Friend in rear and ridden along 18th, hampered and left disputing 2nd 4 out, challenged 2 out, slight lead and pecked last, rider dropped whip when challenged soon after and headed, no extra near finish

Dickensbury Lad in rear, headway 13th, hit 16th, slightly hampered 4 out, soon ridden, no chance after 3 out

Gallik Dawn chased leaders 14th, ridden 4 out, weakened soon after

It´s Definite in rear and hit 15th, tailed off when blundered 3 out

Dizzy Massini soon jumping poorly in rear and tailed off, pulled up before 6th

Shepherds Hut chased leaders until pulled up before 10th

Bon Accord in touch, ridden and some headway 14th, staying on same pace when not much room 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up

Beauchamp Oracle tailed off 12th, pulled up before 2 out

Sleeping Night chased leaders, disputed 2nd 17th, 2 lengths 3rd and staying on well when badly hampered and brought down 4 out

Lou Du Moulin Mas chased leaders, went 2nd 17th, 1 length down and every chance when fell 4 out

Sandywell George soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 7th

Kadito led to 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out

Auditor led 5th to 13th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 17th

El Hombre Del Rio soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 15th

This hunter chase is normally one of the best races of its kind, and this did not look to be a bad edition with a former winner of the Foxhunter and the second from this year's running both in the field.

However, in a race that had only five finishers, it was the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup second TAKE THE STAND who emerged triumphant after getting the better of Merchants Friend in a rousing battle through the closing stages.

Take The Stand had won his first chase for four years at Newbury last month, but that came on soft ground, which has never suited the 12-year-old, who was even better on the quicker conditions he faced here. He has been, and remains, a grand servant to the sport.

Merchants Friend found the Cheltenham hill just too muchwhen he threw away a seemingly unassailable lead in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup of 2004, and the final incline again proved his nemesis. However, another contributing factor was that his rider dropped his whip soon after the final fence.

Lou Du Moulin Mas was on the heels of the winner when crashing out at the fourth-last, where Sleeping Night was brought down. The latter had been under a shove for some time but was still not beaten when forced out of the contest.

Foxhunter runner-up Bon Accord was a significant flop on this occasion and was beaten early on the second circuit.

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