See also » Clan Des Obeaux continues dream day for connections at Liverpool
When he’s been here before he’s had two hard races in the Gold Cup so the best thing we did was not take him there (Cheltenham), it makes such a big difference as it’s hard to do both. Perhaps he was disappointing at Newbury, but he did give 6lb to a good horse. It woke us up though as we realised we were probably getting the tactics wrong. We know to be positive on him now. Obviously next season the King George will be his number one aim, then back here and I’d like to go for the Denman again. If the ground is decent the Betfair at Haydock is a nice race for him — as is the Charlie Hall. Paul Nicholls, trainer

Permission was given for Militarian (GB) to be mounted in the chute.

Tiger Roll (IRE), placed fourth, failed to enter the winner’s enclosure.

Being satisfied this was following consultation with the Veterinary Officer, no further action was taken.

An enquiry was held into the running and riding of Tiger Roll (IRE), ridden by Jack Kennedy and trained by Mrs Denise Foster, which appeared to be tenderly handled throughout to stay on to finish fourth, beaten by 92 lengths.

The rider was interviewed and shown recordings of the race and the Veterinary Officer reported that a post-race examination of the gelding failed to reveal any abnormalities.

The rider stated his instructions were to make the running, but felt the gelding was never really travelling due to the fast early pace, a fact which he reported at Scales, and following a mistake at the third fence, where the gelding may have lost confidence, he was never able to hold its position.

He added that he had continued to nudge and squeeze the gelding along during the final circuit and that the gelding had appeared to only stay on as the race in front of him had fallen apart.

The rider further stated that he had ridden the gelding to its best advantage and in his opinion had obtained the best possible placing.

The trainer was interviewed by telephone and confirmed both the instructions given and also that Tiger Roll (IRE) may have been unsuited by the fast pace.

Mrs Foster further added that today’s race may have come too soon after the recent run at Cheltenham.

Their explanations were noted.

Following the race, Brian Hughes reported that Waiting Patiently (IRE), which was pulled up, was never travelling from halfway; the Veterinary Officer reported that a post-race examination, during routine testing of Waiting Patiently (IRE), failed to reveal any abnormalities.