Revitalised Third Intention puts rivals in the shade

With it coming so early in the season the Old Roan Chase necessarily poses more questions than it answers, and few horses have proved more of an enigma than Third Intention down the years.

In the aftermath of the nine-year-old's biggest success in the 188Bet Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase, his trainer Colin Tizzard even admitted he remains unsure of his optimum distance. He said: "We don't know what his best trip is. He'll have an entry in the Hennessy on Tuesday, but I think two and a half to three miles might be ideal."

The race honours a famously gallant old grey and three-time winner of the race, who looked excellent for his 18 years in the pre-race parade. The reputation that Third Intention holds could hardly be more different, but his trainer raised the point that maybe those impressions have been misleading.