The seven-year-old went into the race as the 3-1 joint-favourite, a status owed in no small part to his victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November.

That win saw him carry top-weight of 12st on Town Moor for his first attempt over three miles, with Jonathan Burke in the saddle as he was at Cheltenham.

Ga Law was handling both the burden and the extended trip with aplomb when approaching the final fence level with eventual winner Cooper's Cross, but a slightly low jump saw him brush through the fence and fall.

Both horse and rider got to their feet and as Ga Law picked up a few nicks his trainer will take stock before planning his next outing.

"He's OK, he was coming to either win his race or finish a very good second, which would have been a great run off that kind of welter burden for his first time over three miles," said Jamie Snowden.

"He definitely stayed. It's always a shame to come down at the last and nobody knows what would have happened, but he certainly would have been either first or second. It's a great shame but it was a hell of a run under that kind of weight, we're pleased with how he ran but of course disappointed with the result.

"He stayed well and was running a big race, we'll just get him right and see where we are from there.

"He sustained a couple of small cuts so we will get those sorted out, get him back schooling and see where we want to go.

"We had a few plans up our sleeve had he won, but I think for now we'll get him right, he'll tell us how he is and we can go forward from there."