NEWBURY 15:10

Non Runners: HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR). Fences: 20. Race Distance Adjustment: +57 yds

Time: 6m 25s Closing Sectional: (3.05f): 45s (99.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 132%, Betfair SP 100.2%

The sixtieth and expected final running under the Hennessy banner of one of the truly great handicap chases, with a roll of honour featuring some of the great staying chasers, from Arkle down; it was fiercely competitive, with plenty still having a chance turning in off a good gallop, stamina, fitness and jumping properly tested, and in Native River it had a typically progressive winner, a young second-season chaser who could go pretty close to the top if all continues to go well, his winning margin likely to have been larger had he not idled late on after going around 3 lengths up, no real hard-luck stories amongst the vanquished.

NATIVE RIVER (IRE) was well backed on his return to fences and progressed again on his first start out of novice company, showing all the qualities that had made his novice campaign such a success, as at Aintree Richard Johnson looking the perfect partner for him; pressed leader, jumped soundly, led second until after fifth, led fifteenth, ridden home turn, headed 4 out, rallied to lead again 2 out, 3 lengths clear soon after last, idled and needed to be driven out; he can be rated as better than his winning margin, given the idling, and may yet have more to offer, the Welsh National an option next, though a campaign at a higher level is on the cards with even the Cheltenham Gold Cup a realistic goal, not to mention the obvious target of the Grand National.

CAROLE'S DESTRIER proved better than ever after 7 months off (missed the Badger Ales due to the ground); mid-division, effort 5 out, chased leaders from 4 out, stayed on strongly after last, took second final 1f and closed on idling winner, held dying strides; he holds a Welsh Grand National entry, that test sure to suit him, and he would be one for the early shortlist for the Grand National itself on this showing.

DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) is more exposed than the first 2 and ran well, his performance suggesting he's as good as he ever was, just not so stout a stayer as the winner (or second) after going slightly the better early in the straight; close up, travelled well, led ninth, headed fourteenth, led again 4 out, ridden soon after, headed 2 out, second when mistake last, no extra final 100 yds; he holds a Becher Chase entry, though the best of his 3 runs over the National fences was his first and the race is only a week away.

HADRIAN'S APPROACH (IRE) had clearly come on for his reappearance and ran about as well as he's able these days, this effort at least as good as his sixth in the Gold Cup at Sandown in the spring, his infrequent appearances meaning he's not sure to build on it; held up, effort before 4 out, keeping on when mistake 2 out, stayed on.

BLAKLION making handicap debut over fences, had work to do to turn the tables from Aintree with the winner and ran up to his best, though as at Wetherby his effort rather flattened out after he'd looked a threat early in the straight; in touch, took keen hold, chased leaders fifteenth, ridden after 4 out, not quicken 2 out; he shouldn't have had a problem with the slightly longer trip, and while he holds an entry in the King George, he's more likely to make a significant mark this season in races of this type.

VYTA DU ROC (FR) ran respectably back over fences, looking more of a stayer than had perhaps been the case when he ran in the Scottish National, clearly worth another try at long distances, like the first 2 holding an entry in the Welsh National; held up, ridden before fifteenth, some headway before 4 out, not quicken next, plugged on run-in.

SMAD PLACE (FR) wasn't far off his best, back over a more suitable trip, a mark 11 lb higher than when winning this last season demanding a career-best to score again, less testing ground this year perhaps against him to a degree as well; went with zest, led first, remained prominent, ridden early in straight, plugged on, held when mistake last; he's not in the King George this time around, the Cotswold Chase, which he won last winter a likely option again, with perhaps the Grand National a spring target.

THEATRE GUIDE (IRE) had twice been placed in this great race previously, but he wasn't in quite the same form this time around, unable to land a blow from off the pace; held up, headway before 5 out, mistake next, made no impression.

AUBUSSON (FR) had a mark which fully reflected his hurdles form and he just wasn't up to making an impact with such little experience of chasing himself; in touch, mistake sixth, tenth, labouring fifteenth.

UN TEMPS POUR TOUT (IRE) back over fences, was below form, his jumping not really holding up in such a competitive affair; mid-division, travelled well, headway when hit tenth, weakening when mistake 5 out, bad mistake next.

HENRI PARRY MORGAN had form that made him closely matched with the winner and, though well held after 7 months off, did shape better than the final result indicates, a mistake just as he was making a forward move seeming to end his chance abruptly; held up, hampered fourth, yet to be asked for effort when mistake 5 out, not persevered with once held, never on terms; he's on a good mark, remains with potential to do better as well, and it would be no surprise to see him land a good staying handicap at some stage this season.

TRIOLO D'ALENE (FR) who had won this race in 2013, had been lightly raced/shown patchy form since and was well held after 8 months off; held up, blundered first, slow thirteenth, ridden after, never on terms.

HOLYWELL (IRE) back in headgear and back over fences, failed to build in any way on his return, seemingly the spring and Cheltenham needed to spark a return to form; close up early, lost place gradually circuit out, mistakes in latter stages, lost touch before 5 out.

VICENTE (FR) shaped as if needing the run after 7 months off, likely to have finished well held had he completed, though the way in which he moved into contention augured quite well for his prospects off this revised mark; in rear, travelled well, mistake first, good progress fifteenth, weakened early in straight, held when fell 2 out.

SAPHIR DU RHEU (FR) was unable to take advantage of a generous mark, an early casualty; waited with, fell fourth.

UPSWING (IRE) ran poorly, in nothing like the same form as last time thanks to a poor round of jumping; not jump well, always behind.

LOCAL SHOW (IRE) possibly needs easier ground but still ran no sort of race after 9 months off, his jumping letting him down badly; in touch, jumped poorly, lost place halfway, pulled up 2 out.

REGAL ENCORE (IRE) never looked likely to get involved after 7 months off, now pulled up in 4 of his 5 handicap chases; held up, headway when blundered fourteenth, pulled up next.

COOLOGUE (IRE) off a mark 8 lb higher, found the company beyond him, giving way turning for home; pressed leader, took keen hold, led after fifth, headed ninth, led briefly fourteenth, weakened early in straight, pulled up 2 out.