Fourteen-year-old Native Jack, winner of the race two years ago, had not run since a disappointing performance at The Festival last year but delighted connections with a
staying-on second.

Trainer Philip Rothwell said: "We're ecstatic. He's been off the racecourse since this day last year and I asked the owners to give me a chance to bring him back once more. This is super, he wouldn't have liked the ground out there at all. He's way better on good ground but he finished well and it's great."

Niall O'Farrell, one of Native Jack's four owners, said: "He's been fantastic. We won two years ago. Last year we brought him back for a lap of honour. He was really well during the summer but we didn't know if we were going to retire him so we're just delighted he's in such top form today."

Michael Hourigan, trainer of third-placed A New Story, said: "I'm very, very pleased. He's a bit of a character of a horse but he loves it round here. He wings fences and he's only jumped about 15 banks in his life so I'm delighted with how he's taken to it today. We'll be back in November."