NEWBURY 14:50 582r1x

All 20 ran. Fences: 19. Race Distance Adjustment: +32 yds

Time: 6m 39s Closing Sectional: (2.95f): 43.8s (102.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 134%, Betfair SP 105.9%

The cross fence was omitted due to being damaged

Non-Festival handicap chases hardly ever come hotter than the 'Hennessy' but this year's edition felt an uplift even on the norm, with a 20-strong field chock-full of second-season chasers boasting bags of upside, 3 such types filling the first 3 positions ahead of a couple of older-stagers with notable Newbury form, including a win in this in 2021 in the case of Cloudy Glen, who played a big role again this time around as he was largely responsible for an unrelenting gallop that placed full emphasis on jumping and stamina.

DATSALRIGHTGINO (GER) was anything but lightly campaigned as a novice yet raised his game significantly with his forgiveable reappearance in a mess of an Old Roan under his belt, as suggested when g off in the Future Champions at Ayr proving well suited by a first crack at a staying distance, running to a level that would make a bid at open graded company a viable move, with something like the Cotswold on Trials' Day a likely option; the quality of the ride from a jockey performing better than ever ought not be overlooked, either, settled last in a briskly-run race and having enough about him to make a big move (still not in first dozen end of back straight) to press the leader soon after 3 out and then sustain it on edging ahead at the last; this needn't prove his limit, either, given he's only just starting out his career over this sort of trip.

MAHLER MISSION (IRE) has won only one of his 7 starts over fences but such a record could hardly be less representative of the qualities of a most likeable type who'll remain one to note for a big one, given the mark of a very smart chaser and proving himself every bit that as he found only a fellow second-season chaser trying the trip for the first time progressing that bit more; settled in touch in strongly-run race rather than forcing it, he travelled best and was still going well when produced to lead soon after 3 out only for the winner to motor past him at the last, left behind gradually but remaining well clear of the rest, all this having reportedly lost both front shoes during the race.

MONBEG GENIUS (IRE) is well worth another chance in one of these, adding a third in this leading handicap chase to his one in an exceptionally strong renewal of the Ultima (behind Corach Rambler and Fastorslow), no disgrace in finding this front pair too much to handle on the day but set to go on improving, too; waited with, mistake fourth, took closer order fifteenth, pushed along straight, stayed on gradually.

ELDORADO ALLEN (FR) stepped up plenty on a comeback run that might have been needed more than usual (previously good record fresh), doing about as well as could be expected in a field containing so many less-exposed ones; ridden more patiently, settled in rear, steady headway before straight, pushed along after 4 out, stayed on gradually.

CLOUDY GLEN (IRE) shaped as if still in good form from just out of the handicap, having to work to get to the front and not hanging around once there, which almost certainly told more than the quick turnaround; tracked pace out wide, went on soon after fifth, headed 4 out, fourth 2 out, weakened.

SHAKEM UP'ARRY (IRE) predictably found the trip stretching him but not before shaping far better than he had at Stratford, putting himself back on the radar for a good handicap back around 2½m from his proper mark (3 lb out of weights here), most likely the one back at Cheltenham on New Years' Day in which he'd also shaped well in 2022; went with bundles of zest as he pressed the leader, jumped on fourth, headed soon after next, weakened last.

GA LAW (FR) went with more zest back chasing in first-time cheekpieces and left the impression he retains his ability for all his stamina for the trip remains unproven; mid-division, went prominent over circuit out, in contention still 4 out, weakened between last 2.

BILL BAXTER (IRE) failed to come on for his reappearance spin upped in grade from 2 lb out of the weights, having had another breathing operation in the intervening 4 weeks, as then forgoing the chance to tackle the National fences again with the Becher Chase just a week away; mid-field, pushed along straight, made little impression.

STOLEN SILVER (FR) was undone by a 7 lb rise in the weights for making a winning return when clearly primed; close up when hampered first, settled in touch after, outpaced approaching straight, rallied until 4 out, left behind.

COMPLETE UNKNOWN (IRE) went like a non-stayer hiked back beyond 3m, shaping much better than the distance beaten suggests (looked fourth/fifth best long way); waited with, forced wide, good progress approaching straight, shaken up after 4 out, weakened from 2 out; he always sees out trips around 2½m well but the fact remains he's yet to win beyond that sort of distance.

TWIG was found out in better company; mid-division, lost ground over circuit out, struggling straight.

ZANZA (IRE) wasn't on a going day back over fences, this cut-throat environment not his bag for all he's long since saved his best for Newbury; off pace out wide, labouring from twelfth, looked none too keen.

KITTY'S LIGHT tends to take a few more runs to get fully warmed up, well held again even back chasing in refitted cheekpieces/tongue tie; outpaced soon after start, well off pace, some headway approaching straight, made little impression.

OUR POWER (IRE) failed to complete back over fences (also refitted with cheekpieces), falling at the fourteenth when still in mid-division.

MIDNIGHT RIVER was going well close up when falling at the fourteenth.

MAX FLAMINGO (IRE) found this well beyond him (1 lb out of weights) even back at a more suitable trip returned to chasing; soon behind, not jump well, never travelling well, struggling when hampered fourteenth.

STUMPTOWN (IRE) failed to justify some rather surprising , bearing in mind how his season had started; handy, lost place when hampered first, lost ground again circuit out, mistake twelfth, struggling when hampered fourteenth.

REMASTERED at least had an excuse for this second successive well-below-par display; held up, headway when bad mistake water jump, no chance after.

DUSART (IRE) seemingly hard to train, made it 3 successive non-completions by running poorly after 7 months off; held up, out wide, mistake sixth, hampered fourteenth, dropped away before straight, possibly amiss.

AHOY SENOR (IRE) ran flat-out badly this time trying to dominate a much bigger field; jumped right, led until fourth, lost ground again early final circuit, struggling before end of back straight; he's increasingly hard to catch right.