tracked leaders, joined leader 8th, narrow lead from 14th, drew clear, well in command from 4 out, stayed on strongly, impressive
in mid-division until blundered and lost place 16th, stayed on again from 2 out, kept on run-in
behind, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on
in touch, dived at 13th, stayed on one pace from 4 out
behind, blundered 12th, tailed off when jumped right 16th pulled up before next
towards rear, hampered 7th, tailed off when pulled off approaching 4 out
mid-division until slightly lost place 16th, no danger after
chased leaders, weakened 4 out, fell 3 out
in touch when fell 7th
led, joined 8th, narrowly headed 14th, chased winner to 16th, soon ridden, weakened after 4 out
behind, mistake 3rd, ridden 14th, tailed off when refused, unseated rider 3 out
always prominent, chased winner from 16th, never any chance from 4 out, kept on well for 2nd, blundered last
chased leaders, ridden approaching 17th soon weakened
always behind
held up in rear, not fluent 10th, hit 16th, headway approaching 4 out, ridden next, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 17th, ridden and went 3rd before 3 out, stayed on same pace
mid-division, not fluent 13th, headway, went 3rd 17th until before 3 out, soon weakened
raced in mid-division, behind from 15th
In a typically competitive renewal of the hennessy, Sir Rembrandt, who has turned back the clock this year, would be a highly popular winner, but he may find others a little too quick. Denman heads the weights, while Abragante has been well supported, but Ferdy Murphy is taken to collect his second major prize of the season with New Alco. Denman went through last season unbeaten but concedes upwards of half a stone to his rivals here. He takes on his elders for the first time, and it is hard to say how good last season's novices were at this stage. His trainer paul Nicholls has underlined the size of the task he faces, and he may find others well handicapped. Abragante has won his last three starts, with the first two coming over hurdles. He has been given a stone more to carry than when scoring at Wincanton over fences last time, and although he won easily, that makes his task more difficult and he is narrowly opposed. Despite running some good races in defeat last season, New Alco was landing his first race for almost two years when scoring emphatically at Carlisle on his re-appearance. Murphy took the Paddy Power Gold Cup and there is no doubt the handicapper would give more than the six pound penalty he shoulders here. New Alco can land Murphy's second major prize of the campaign.
Denman (IRE) 6-5fav (11-4) Prominent, led 4th to 11th, stayed with leader, going well when led 3 out, driven clear after 2 out, stayed on strongly flat, won at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar beating Snowy Morning (11-4) by 10l, 17 ran.
Juveigneur (FR) 6-1 (10-10) Held up, headway into 2nd 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 6th of 9, 37l behind Sonnyanjoe (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Nov.
Madison Du Berlais (FR) 25-1 (11-6) Chased winner, jumped right 7th, lost 2nd 11th, driven after next, 4th and beaten when mistake 2 out, 4th of 7, 15l behind Ollie Magern (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Nov.
Knowhere (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, struggling when mistake 3 out, stayed on under strong pressure approaching last, went 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 20, 2l behind L'Antartique (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Nov.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on from next, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Aces Four (11-5) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
New Alco (FR) 11-4 (11-2) Made all, ridden approaching 2 out, clear from last, won at Carlisle 2m 4f Grad Ch (2) gd in Nov beating Idle Talk (11-9) by 11l, 7 ran.
Always Waining (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Mid-division, driven 6th, some progress 3 out, 7th of 16, 12l behind Supreme Huntress (11-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Strong Flow (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Led, headed from 3rd, mistake 4th, raced in 3rd after, 4th approaching 5 out, no impression under pressure approaching 3 out, 4th of 6, 24l behind Taranis (11-10) at Down Royal 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Nov.
Snowy Morning (IRE) 9-4 (11-10) Held up in touch, driven along briefly 11th, 5th 4 out, no extra from next, 4th of 7, 34l behind Offshore Account (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f nov chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Sir Rembrandt (IRE) 15-2 (10-2) Tracked leaders, led and jumped right from 3 out, in command from 2 out, comfortably, won at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Nov beating Cornish Sett (10-12) by 13l, 10 ran.
Patsy Hall (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Always behind, trailing when blundered 2 out, 10th of 11, well behind Clew Bay Cove (9-10) at Punchestown 2m hcp chs 0-140 gs in Nov.
Dream Alliance 12-1 (11-3) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, led after 4 out, clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Perth 3m hcp chs (2) sft in Apr beating Lothian Falcon (10-3) by 8l, 15 ran.
D'Argent (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Close up, went right 4th, weakened 16th, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Sir Rembrandt (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Point Barrow (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Never a factor, tailed off, 12th of 15, well behind Baily Breeze (10-9) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs hvy in Oct.
Abragante (IRE) 15-8fav (10-4) Held up, smooth headway from 15th, joined leader 3 out, led last, shaken up, quickened clear flat, easily, won at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Nov beating Tom Sayers (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Character Building (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Mid-division, effort 16th, ridden and weakened 20th, soon beaten and pulled up in race won by Hot Weld (9-9) at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr, 23 ran.
Bible Lord (IRE) 4-1fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 8th, ridden and every chance 2 out, hit last, no extra, 4th of 13, 10l behind Principe Azzurro (10-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Bowleaze (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Prominent, chased leader 11th, ridden 4 out, every chance when fell 2 out in race won by Abragante (10-4) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
