The whole field slowed down dramatically from before the last and got tired. They got home from the final jump more than a second slower than in the other two chases over the same course.

As had happened in the Gold Cup, Silviniaco Conti started to wander around as he tired. His jockey managed to straighten him up but he was leaden-legged as they approached the line and the third horse gained two lengths on him in the final strides.

Silviniaco Conti has failed to reach the first three the three times that he’s run three miles plus on tracks with steep uphill finishes. I’m now thinking he tired late in the Betfair Chase because this year’s renewal was a furlong longer than when he won it last year. I’m going to be wary of backing him to last an inch beyond three miles on a galloping course.

That said, I’m hard pressed to nominate any horse to prevent Silviniaco Conti winning the King George for a second year in a row next term. It’s just the Gold Cup and other stiff tests of stamina that concern me.

The runner-up Dynaste (41) is rather a similar type. He was wisely cut back to two miles and five furlongs to take the Ryanair at Cheltenham. I wouldn’t want to bet on him lasting three miles on any track with a steep uphill finish.

I think Dynaste ‘bounced’ in the King George due to the effects of running so fast in the Betfair Chase the previous month. He’s won five of his other eight chase starts and finished second to smart rivals in his three losses.

Third placed Argocat (41) proved that he does stay three miles in a strongly run race by picking up well late. It looks like he doesn’t get home on tracks with steep uphill finishes or last three miles on a galloping track when the ground is soft. He’s been very consistent in other circumstances, as long as he’s had a run within the last 60 days.

I thought the tight track would counteract the lack of acceleration so often displayed by First Lieutenant (41). I guess it did as he equalled his performance on my ratings despite failing to repeat last year’s win in this race. It does seem that he’s always going to find one or two to beat him in the very top races, as he’s now won just once in his last 16 starts.