THE Giant Bolster (31-pace adjusted 37) has reached the first four in the last three Cheltenham Gold Cups. He must have a great shot of making it four in a row after his good performance in unsuitable circumstances in the Betbright Cup Chase at Cheltenham.

One reason The Giant Bolster does so well in the Gold Cup is because it’s invariably run at a searching pace. This was hardly the case in the Betbright Chase. The time the runners took for the second circuit was 9.9% faster than on the first. From four out, as the race began in earnest, The Giant Bolster was having to be scrubbed along to keep in touch as the leaders sprinted for home.