tracked leaders, lost place 19th, headway approaching 3 out, led when not fluent last, ridden and stayed on well flat
held up in touch when pulled up before 15th
held up in touch, lost place 19th, behind from 5 out, tailed off
tracked leader, lost place 20th, outpaced approaching 3 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat to go 3rd towards finish
held up in rear in touch, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in touch on outside, mistake 11th, joined leader 20th, every chance when not fluent last, ridden and no extra flat
tracked leaders on inside, mistake 10th, effort 3 out, challenged next, ridden and stayed on to chase winner flat
led, joined 20th, headed last, soon ridden, kept on same pace flat
Meanus Dandy has been raised 8lb since finishing a close second to stablemate The Minack over 3m2f at Wincanton but is still sure to be popular with punters here. Prophete De Guye, Do It For Dalkey and Runshan all come into the race on a hat-trick but the latter pair are racing from out of the handicap proper and all three are taking on considerably better opposition than they've faced recently. Deep Purple has a touch of class but has never suggested he'll stay this far and has to concede 9lb to MADISON DU BERLAIS on his reappearance. David Pipe's 10-year-old won the Hennessy in 2008 but has found life tough in the last couple of years. He finished behind Meanus Dandy at Wincanton but is much better treated here and could finally end his winless run with Any Currency and Major Malarkey returning from a break.
Deep Purple 12-1 (11-7) Led to 5th, remained close up, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 4th of 6, 17l behind Nacarat (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gs in Apr.
Meanus Dandy (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5 out, led next, clear 3 out to next, ridden and headed between last 2, rallied flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind The Minack (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Madison Du Berlais (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, in touch 12th, outpaced 16th, soon lost place, no danger after, 6th of 13, 31l behind The Minack (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Any Currency (IRE) 6-1fav (10-9) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders from 4 out, 4th when blundered 3 out, went 2nd soon after last, no chance with winner hung badly right flat, 2nd of 17, 8l behind Midnight Chase (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov '10.
Prophete de Guye (FR) 8-1 (10-10) In rear and patiently ridden, headway 4 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on well, won at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov beating Fruity O'Rooney (11-11) by 7l, 11 ran.
Major Malarkey (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, pecked 7th, led 20th until before 3 out, stayed in 4th until weakened from last, 5th of 18, 6l behind Poker De Sivola (10-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gf in Apr.
Do It For Dalkey 9-2 (11-12) Close up, joined leader 12th, led next, clear 3 out, ran on, comfortable, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov beating Soprano (11-7) by 10l, 12 ran.
Runshan (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, left in lead 10th, clear before 3 out, cantered home, won at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Oct beating Lost Glory (11-12) by 41l, 8 ran.