NEWBURY 14:05

All 5 ran. Fences: 16.

Time: 5m 7.78s

Overrounds: Industry SP 113%, Betfair SP 100.3%

The departure before halfway of Saphir du Rheu took some of the interest away from this Grade 2 novice, but there was still plenty to like about the winner's performance, a useful one and on a par with the best of his hurdles form, his withdrawal at Plumpton the previous week in circumstances which annoyed connections, surely forgotten in the aftermath.

CONEYGREE a useful novice over hurdles (met only defeat against At Fisher's Cross and The New One), returned after 22 months off to make a most promising start over fences, very much a chaser on looks and clearly with the potential to be better in this sphere; led, jumped well, ridden before 3 out, kept on well after next; will be at least as effective back at 3m; sure to progress and capable of winning again.

DELL' ARCA (IRE) shaped with plenty of encouragement on his second start over fences, the full set of fences having to be jumped this time, which he coped with without much trouble; in rear, headway before 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on well, edged left, made no impression; clearly a useful novice and well up to winning a race or 2 over fences.

HORATIO HORNBLOWER (IRE) back up in trip, failed to repeat first effort, this company perhaps just too demanding for him; in touch, not always fluent, chased leader from eleventh, weakened before 3 out.

SAPHIR DU RHEU (FR) was the pick of these over hurdles and looks the part for chasing but he failed to complete on his debut over fences after 9 months off; chased leader, travelled well, unseated rider seventh; remains an exciting prospect for chasing.

DEEP TROUBLE (IRE) back up in trip, perhaps found this coming too soon after just 11 days off, but he certainly ran as if amiss; held up, travelled well, mistake eleventh, folded tamely 4 out, pulled up 2 out; has the physique for chasing and may yet do better, judged on hurdles form.