Ireland has a vice-like grip on the Gold Cup - but British hopes can stay alive for a bit longer

A field of nine equals the biggest assembled for the Betfair Chase. The difference between now and 2014, the last time nine saw the tape go up, shows the sort of trajectory you would expect.

The field in 2014 was a little deeper. Silviniaco Conti and Cue Card were the main attractions, with a strong supporting cast including Dynaste and Menorah. Every one of the nine runners was trained in Britain. This year, British runners only just make up a majority.

The standout among them is Grey Dawning. He is 16-1 for the Gold Cup, which tells you two things. The first is that this is not a strong Betfair Chase, as the favourite for this race is generally much shorter for the Gold Cup at this point.