Grey Dawning needs to step up to be a Gold Cup contender but Fact To File is now very much a major player

Saturday’s Betfair Chase at Haydock turned into a real test of attrition, as has often been the case in the past. The going, officially described as soft, led to Hewick and The Real Whacker being withdrawn, but we were still left with a high-class field of seven. 

Last year’s winner Royale Pagaille got the better of last season’s Turners Novices' Chase winner Grey Dawning, who was very good in defeat. 

The runner-up was not helped by a poor jump at the last, at which point he was shaping as if his stamina was fading; something that wasn’t an issue for Royale Pagaille.