NEWBURY 15:00

Non Runners: PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE). Fences: 21. Race Distance Adjustment: +64 yds

Time: 6m 29.8s Closing Sectional: (3.05f): 44.50s (101.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 137%, Betfair SP 100.6%

The 61st running of this great race, the first not billed as the Hennessy Gold Cup, the old handle likely to linger, though the new sponsors are impossible to mistake for anyone watching the race or viewing a replay, this a vintage running in prospect, with Coneygree heading the weights, the first former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner to run in this since Denman in 2010, those around him at the head of the market looking to make progress early in their first season out of novice company; Coneygree failed to give his running, as did the well-backed American, but it was 2 of the other market leaders, both out of novice company this season, who fought out the finish, Total Recall a first Irish-trained winner - not counting the subsequently disqualified Be My Royal - since Bright Highway in 1980, the runner-up Whisper, conceding 14 lb to the winner, emerging with plenty of credit, too; the race was well run - perhaps overly so - and the ground less testing than ideal for some, though the way the first 2 travelled suggested they were full value for their efforts.

TOTAL RECALL (IRE) upped still further in trip, was strong in the betting and looked a long way ahead of his mark, impressing with how he went through the race, despite his jumping being adequate at best, a mistake 2 out nearly costing him before he produced a storming finish under strong driving (rider banned for 4 days for excessive use of whip) to lead close home; patiently ridden, not always fluent, tanked along, smooth headway seventeenth, challenged 3 out, mistake next, ridden after, rallied run-in, found plenty to lead near finish; he's sure to progress further, not long with this yard nor at all exposed at 3m+, graded races surely on the agenda before long, though the Grand National is reportedly his main target.

WHISPER (FR) making his handicap debut over fences under a 4-lb penalty for his reappearance win, produced the best performance in this race since the subsequent Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth beat Tidal Bay in the 2011 running, his performance suggesting he merits serious consideration as a Gold Cup candidate himself, only his age seeming a negative, his second chance over fences coming relatively late; waited with, travelled well, headway sixteenth, led on bridle 3 out, ridden approaching next, clear before last, kept on well, headed close home; sure to continue to give a good account.

REGAL ENCORE (IRE) had clearly come on a lot for his reappearance and ran right up to his best, faring much better than he had in this race last season, just beaten by 2 more progressive, better-handicapped rivals; held up, headway seventeenth, ridden straight, not quicken before 2 out, took third run-in, kept on.

BRAQUEUR D'OR (FR) joint-youngest in the field, fared best of those that raced close to the pace, essentially coping well with a more demanding track than he was previously used to, likely to continue to perform with credit, still qualified to run at a slightly lower level, too; chased leaders, ridden seventeenth, not quicken 3 out, plugged on run-in.

PILGRIMS BAY (IRE) stepped up on his comeback run, less testing conditions probably a help, though he didn't have quite the class or stamina to get even more involved in the closing stages; held up, travelled well, mistake second, headway before 4 out, ridden after 3 out, no extra run-in; he'd probably be best aimed at a repeat win in the Betbright Chase.

MISSED APPROACH (IRE) back in headgear (blinkers this time) for his return to chasing, shaped a fair bit better than the bare result, getting involved earlier than ideal; mid-division, headway early final circuit, led thirteenth, headed 4 out, third when mistake 2 out, weakened; his performances here and in the Scottish National suggest he's on a fair mark and he shouldn't be written off for a race of this nature.

POTTERS LEGEND in a change of headgear, was beaten a fair way in the end, but he shaped better than the bare result, doing too much too soon after going with plenty of zest, his jumping standing up better than is sometimes the case; prominent, travelled well, disputed lead home turn, mistake 4 out, weakened after next, blundered last.

CAROLE'S DESTRIER hadn't been seen since finishing well held in the Welsh National last December, and he never looked likely to repeat his reappearance second in last season's running of this race, his mark here 6 lb higher; soon steadied, headway under pressure before seventeenth, left behind before 4 out.

A GENIE IN ABOTTLE (IRE) has been well below his best in 2 visits to Britain this year, as in the NH Chase coming into the race in form, both of those runs on ground probably not soft enough for him and also under less aggressive rides than suit best; held up, pushed along early final circuit, labouring fifteenth, left behind after seventeenth, tailed off when blundered 2 out.

BIGBADJOHN (IRE) was very hard to fancy on his effort last time and duly made virtually no impact; soon behind, labouring fifteenth, left behind after seventeenth.

VYTA DU ROC (FR) off a mark 3 lb lower than when sixth in last season's running of this race, failed to come on for his reappearance as expected, never threatening to get involved; raced off the pace, shaken up before seventeenth, left behind soon after.

PRESENT MAN (IRE) wasn't in the same form as last time, that gruelling race perhaps having taken the edge off of him, fierce competition for the lead probably not a help either; close up, led tenth, headed twelfth, ridden seventeenth, weakened after 4 out, beaten when hampered next.

AMERICAN (FR) was well supported after 9 months off, less exposed than the rest after just 3 starts over fences, but his form is on much softer ground and that, combined with signs of inexperience in a large field, told against him, beaten before the longer trip (which should suit) came into play; in touch, jumped sketchily, mistake eleventh, labouring soon after, weakened quickly seventeenth, pulled up straight; he remains open to improvement and could be interesting if taking his chance in the Welsh National, conditions there likely to be much more suitable.

COGRY wasn't able to cut out the mistakes nearly so well as he had the last twice and predictably wasn't anything like so competitive as a result; chased leaders, jumped none too fluently, lost place gradually back straight, eased, pulled up before seventeenth.

CONEYGREE was well supported to make amends for his Wetherby mishap, but he ideally needs softer ground and didn't go with his usual zest, questions now as to how much ability he retains; made most until tenth, led briefly again twelfth, ridden thirteenth, hit next, weakened sixteenth, pulled up straight; he was later reported to have suffered a recurrence of a wind problem and will have an operation before he returns.

DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) couldn't repeat his 2016 heroics, when third in the final running of this race as the Hennessy, doing too much too soon not helping; helped force pace, ridden end of back straight, weakened home turn, behind when mistake, hampered 3 out, pulled up.

LABEL DES OBEAUX (FR) ran a stinker back in cheekpieces; in rear, never going well, tailed off sixteenth, pulled up next.

ROYAL VACATION (IRE) was back over a more suitable trip, but he seemed discouraged by a mistake before halfway and was in trouble a long way out; handy, mistake seventh, ridden after, lost place circuit out, pulled up before fifteenth, turned it in.

SINGLEFARMPAYMENT very much on his toes beforehand, was set to run creditably when he departed, not going so well as the first 2 but in with a good chance of taking third; in rear, good progress seventeenth, ridden next, keeping on under pressure when fell 3 out; will continue to give a good account.

SOUTHFIELD ROYALE in a change of headgear, went backwards from reappearance, in trouble a long way out; close up, bumped eighth, mistake tenth, lost place after, labouring fifteenth, pulled up straight.