NEWBURY 14:55

All 24 ran. Fences: 21. Race Distance Adjustment: +70 yds

Time: 6m 41.9s Closing Sectional: (3.05f): 43.3s (107.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 147%, Betfair SP 103.5%

An old-school 'Hennessy' on paper even without the presence of a Bobs Worth, Native River or certainly so a Denman, with the biggest field going to post since Gingembre was awarded a 25-runner edition in 2002 following the later disqualification of the Mullins-trained Be My Royal; the dominant trainer of modern times was responsible for a quartet of the ten-strong Irish challenge this time around which, in a sign of the current climate included 7 of the top 8 in the weights, though even the pick of the raiders couldn't contain the better of Dan Skelton's pair in a renewal not short of race-detracting incident, beginning with another infuriatingly chaotic standing start - the BHA really must revisit this nonsensical apparent failsafe method given how many big races it continues to impact - all before front-running favourite Myretown had come to grief at the ninth when controlling a steadier pace than might have been expected, that gallop eventually picking up 5 out.

PANIC ATTACK (IRE) rewarded his title-hungry trainer for his decision to take in another prestigious handicap instead of waiting for a pattern-class race against her own sex, answering in the positive the questions over her likely stamina for more than 3m in becoming the first since Celestial Gold and only fourth in all to land this and the Paddy Power Gold Cup in the same season, in the process ending a barren run for her sex going back to Kerstin in 1959 to boot, a remarkable late-career takeoff for a mare rising 10 by a Flat sire in Canford Cliffs; she would have had to be a blatant non-stayer as well to not finish the job, as she'd travelled and jumped most fluently and taken over still going strongly 3 out, opening right up between the last 2 and running to an even higher level than at Cheltenham for all she was well-in under a 4-lb penalty.

THREE CARD BRAG (IRE) delivered another personal best as it was from an inflated BHA mark (9 lb above that he had in Grand National) yet might have gone even closer without a mistake that was totally at odds with how he'd jumped otherwise, underlining he's a very smart staying chaser tailormade for these big-field handicaps on galloping tracks; left in front when Myretown fell at the ninth, he lifted the pace running to 5 out only to lose the lead (and indeed second position) when getting the next all wrong, to his credit coming back for more to reclaim the runner-up spot inside the final 100 yds.

THE CHANGING MAN (IRE) is compiling a spell of consistency reminiscent of 2022 runner-up Gericault Roque, like that one placed in this after running into a thrown-in Russell-trained chaser when second in the previous season's Ultima, extending his run of top-3 finishes when completing to 9 despite taking in well-contested races each time; he's raced almost exclusively around 3m over fences but the way he jumped and travelled for so long with cheekpieces added (left in front 4 out but headed next and run out of second final 100 yds after still 2-length second crossing last) suggests he'd have no problem dropping back slightly in trip.

GORGEOUS TOM (IRE) is set to remain a fixture in these valuable staying handicap chases and can do some damage in them to boot judged on how well he did here in emerging best of those hindered by the standing start, given time to recover yet working his way into a share of third (alongside Three Card Brag) 2 out before the big move told, still doing enough to suggest he'll stay this far under more conventional circumstances.

PIC ROC (IRE) didn't appear to have the chance the market indicated back into a deep handicap but needs assessing in a different light for other ones now after doing so well to get as close as he did, having been one of those to fluff his lines in the standing start (also ended up in wrong place under similar circumstances in last season's Jack Richards at the Festival); dwelt, in rear, not always fluent, well off pace still early in straight, headway 3 out, effort when untidy last, continued to stay on well and closed down fourth close home; he's certainly worth persevering with around 3m.

KATATE DORI (FR) was another of the trio whose efforts in attempting to overcome slow starts warrant marking up and is worth noting for other good staying handicaps, especially back on testing ground (surprisingly not entered in Welsh National for same connections as 2024 runner-up Jubilee Express); raced off the pace, shaken up soon after 5 out, good progress next, ridden when edged left from 3 out, no further impression.

HYLAND (FR) failed to build on the promise of his comeback and, overall, might just be high enough in the weights to make him of serious interest in top staying handicaps; in touch, not fluent fourteenth, threatened briefly 3 out, shaken up before next, one paced.

INTENSE RAFFLES (FR) stepped up on his comeback run over a completely inadequate trip but still found even this placing too little emphasis on stamina away from bad ground; in touch out wide, outpaced entering straight, rallied gradually.

RISKINTHEGROUND (IRE) shaped as if still in good form, handled in a style that suggested stamina was a concern and very much looked after as his creep into contention up the inner got him no closer from 2 out.

O'MOORE PARK (IRE) is one of the best second-season novices in training judged on some of his very useful handicap efforts in 2024/25 and he'd have made a better fist of things in this one had he not thrown in a blunder; mid-division, lost place when bad mistake fourteenth, rallied briefly 4 out, held last.

RESPLENDENT GREY (IRE) reverted to looking sluggish just when it had seemed from Carlisle (when cheekpieces left off) that those days might be a thing of the past, though a standing start was of absolutely no help to him and, on balance, he remains one to view positively; dwelt, raced well off the pace, jumped none too fluently, shaken up early final circuit, effort when blundered 3 out, no further impression.

A PENNY A HUNDRED (FR) faced a stiff task from 2 lb out of the handicap and just about the widest route of all did nothing to help her cause; shaken up before 5 out, never better than mid-field.

ANNUAL INVICTUS (IRE) was asked a big question returning cold in a race so competitive 19 months on from his second in the 2024 bet365 Gold Cup but did enough to suggest he still has something to offer ridden more patiently than usual, notwithstanding he hung left under pressure from 3 out and was never better than mid-field.

MONTY'S STAR (IRE) found defying such a lofty mark in a competitive handicap no easier a task switching back from Grade 1 company following 7 months off; ridden when out wide from 5 out, never a threat.

MOON D'ORANGE (FR) predictably wasn't up to the task back over fences in the sort of race that tends to punish those who can be hard work; typically not fluent, off bridle some way out, never involved.

VICTTORINO (FR) held his position far better than he had when an unlikely third in this in 2024 but failed to muster anything like the same late rattle this time around, probably further evidence his yard isn't yet rolling as it can despite a smattering of winners (dry weather to start autumn perhaps to blame for slow start); mid-division, shuffled back soon after 5 out, faltered quickly next.

GRANDEUR D'AME (FR) probably found the trip too far but sketchy jumping is becoming a more concerning wider theme with him; tracked pace on inner, clouted fourth, lost place briefly, hampered ninth, lost place when mistake again sixteenth, faded straight.

MYRETOWN (IRE) was in an ominous-looking rhythm in front when crashing out at the ninth; he remains a potentially very smart chaser who'll be well worth backing again this season, not least as he put an even heavier fall at Windsor right behind him in his very progressive novice campaign.

INCH HOUSE (IRE) was 2 lb out of the weights but went backwards from his reappearance regardless, to the extent he might have been amiss (now pulled up 3 of 4 starts for stable); close up until first, lost ground quickly before halfway, tailed off when pulled up soon after sixteenth.

THE DOYEN CHIEF (IRE) lost all chance in the latest unsatisfactory start to a big race, diving sharply right as the tape was released and taking no part; he'd never shown any temperament previously and this almost certainly wasn't a show of it, either.

LOWRY'S BAR (IRE) started his season in even worse fashion than he'd ended his last (when found to have bled), running no sort of race after finding himself further back than usual in this much bigger field; settled in rear, never going well from early final circuit, tailed off when pulled up sixteenth.

PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS (FR) produced a rare below-par effort in one of these big-field handicaps over conventional fences but was reappearing amidst an unusually dry spell for Gavin Cromwell's yard; mid-division, lost place when not fluent seventh, shaken up 5 out, no response.

BLIZZARD OF OZ (IRE) had held his place following a mistake at the fourth only to make a far worse one that ended his chance 5 out.

SPANISH HARLEM (FR) had his winning run ended in deeper waters, not asked or able to get near the front, which perhaps explains why his jumping suffered; settled mid-field out wide, lost place when not fluent from twelfth, behind when eased before straight.