Melbourne Cup runner-up Max Dynamite has been beaten into third place as odds-on favourite in his return at Sandown.

Pallasator, ridden by Oisin Murphy for Sir Mark Prescott, emerged a worthy winner of a tactical battle in the Group Three Henry II Stakes (3200m).

Max Dynamite, trained by Willie Mullins, was sent off at 4-7 for his first run since his Melbourne Cup second in November and was sharply away under Ryan Moore.

Despite shouldering a 4lb (2kg) penalty for his Doncaster Cup win last season, Pallasator found plenty in the closing stages and passed Max Dynamite to run out a comfortable winner with Suegioo snatching second.

"I'm disappointed," Mullins said.

Max Dynamite has eased from 7-1 to 14-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup at next month's Royal meeting while some price assessors have Pallasator as short as 8-1.