Nicky Henderson, trainer of second-placed Binocular, said: "He did nothing wrong, he jumped well, he travelled well and did everything right. Ironically the whole point of running here was to avoid (J P McManus’s) Franchoek (in the JCB Triumph Hurdle) and we were beaten by his horse here! I don’t know what the plan will be now, it probably depends where Franchoek and all the others go."

Diana Whateley, owner of Snap Tie, who finished third, said: "We lost The Grey Berry recently so to be placed at Cheltenham is wonderful when everyone is trying so hard and in such a big field. The ground was not quite what we wanted for him but I’m just thrilled."

The horse’s trainer Philip Hobbs said: "We’re very pleased. We’d have liked the ground to be better and it would have been nice to be in the shake-up a little bit closer but we’re very proud of him."

Outsider Kalahari King claimed fourth at 40/1 to the delight of trainer Ferdy Murphy, who said: "I’m absolutely thrilled with him. It’s probably gone a little bit soft for him but it’s been a great experience and he’s a horse that can play at the big table. Tony (Dobbin) had a great spin round on him and this will do wonders for the horse’s confidence."