ASCOT 15:00

All 14 ran. Fences: 19. Race Distance Adjustment: +31 yds

Time: 6m 4.4s Closing Sectional: (3.8f): 57.2s (101%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 123%, Betfair SP 97.7%

A good-quality handicap chase, though quite a few had questions to answer and it perhaps isn't the strongest piece of form at this level, a strong pace a bit too much for quite a few, the winner swooping late and back to form out of the blue.

REGAL ENCORE (IRE) hasn't been the easiest to predict so far over fences (though clearly with an excuse last time) and whether he'll be in the same form next time is far from certain, the performance itself remarkable, given the ground he made up from the turn, only eighth at that stage, coming late to collar a pair that had gone hammer and tongs, perhaps flattered in doing so; dropped out, travelled well, mistake third, hit fifteenth, still plenty to do 3 out, headway early in straight, found plenty to lead near finish.

MINELLA DADDY (IRE) had gone up all of 11 lb for his win here last time, but it was only just enough to deny him a follow-up success, unfortunate to find the winner on a going day; pressed leader, led under pressure 2 out, kept on well, headed near finish.

TENOR NIVERNAIS (FR) had won here on his return last season and showed again how well he goes fresh and here, proving himself effective at 3m in the process; forced pace, headed straight, kept on well; he followed last season's win with 3 good efforts in defeat at Cheltenham and it would be no surprise to see him back there on New Year's Day, though this effort opens options at this trip as well.

ANOTHER HERO (IRE) was much more competitive than he had been on his return, looking as if he might be the one to pick off the leaders until the late swoop of his owner's other runner, this certainly suggesting he's on a competitive mark; hampered first, off pace, in touch halfway, effort 4 out, kept on well straight, held final 100 yds.

LE MERCUREY (FR) pulled up on his only previous start in a handicap chase, ran respectably, his new mark stiff enough on the back of his good effort at Aintree; waited with, chased leaders thirteenth, weakened straight.

IRISH SAINT (FR) back over fences, wasn't disgraced on his first start in a handicap, though this was perhaps too much of a test for him; held up, effort before 3 out, chased leaders straight, one paced.

FLETCHERS FLYER (IRE) one of the least exposed, this just his fifth start over fences, shaped as if needing the run after 8 months off, of interest again, particularly back over further, almost certainly with other targets later this season; prominent, hit thirteenth, weakened before 2 out.

ANNACOTTY (IRE) was well held on a rare run away from Cheltenham, the return to 3m not drawing much in the way of encouragement; blundered first, chased leaders, labouring thirteenth, weakened.

THE DRUIDS NEPHEW (IRE) looked rusty after 8 months off, his fifth in the Gold Cup at Sandown having suggested he's still a player at this level, his next run likely to give a better idea of his current form; held up, pushed along thirteenth, made no impression.

TRIOLO D'ALENE (FR) if anything, offered even less than in the Hennessy; mid-division, mistake twelfth, labouring fourteenth; the most positive thing that can be said is that he's 2 weeks away from being qualified for veterans events.

GO CONQUER (IRE) fell first.

FOURTH ACT (IRE) ran a stinker, just not himself for whatever reason; raced off the pace, off the bridle long way out, lost touch soon after halfway, pulled up before straight.

EDUARD (IRE) in touch when pulled up twelfth, suffered fatal injury.

HOLYWELL (IRE) again offered little, though it's easy to put a line through this run; badly hampered first, behind after and never going well, pulled up before straight.