tracked leaders, led after 7th, clear 2 out, edged left flat
led, headed after 7th, weakened next
held up and not fluent 1st, took closer order 6th, ridden when hit 9th, weakened next
tracked leader, ridden and outpaced 7th, soon weakened and pulled up before 3 out
keen and mistakes, lost touch 7th
in rear and mistakes, lost touch 7th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, keen, closer order 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened and mistake 2 out
Granit Jack gets the vote here ahead of Massini's Maguire and Kanpai. The selection has won four of his five starts in France and this Paul Nicholls-trained import should take plenty of beating on his British debut. He will handle the cut in the ground and he looks the one to beat. Massini's Maguire rates the main danger as he hails from the in-form Phillip Hobbs yard and he won well on this track last time, That was his first run after a break and with the step-up in trip also in his favour he is entitled to run a big race, although the suspicion is he will be better over the bigger obstacles in time. Kanpai is bang in form and he has won his last five races. He faces his toughest assignment to date here but he looks progressive and with AP McCoy in the plate he has to be on the shortlist. Scribano Eile won well on his hurdles debut at Perth last time and he looked a smart prospect that day. He is another that has to enter calculations, but for the winner we will stick with Granit Jack.
Kanpai (IRE) 4-11fav (11-8) Made all, unchallenged, left clear last, eased flat, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gf beating Hunting Lodge (11-1) by a distance, 4 ran.
Enlightenment (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Made all, clear approaching last, easily, won at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (4) gs beating The Real Deal (11-0) by 9l, 13 ran.
Massini's Maguire (IRE) 4-11fav (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden to lead 2 out, challenged last, ran on, won at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) gd beating Hippodrome (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Scribano Eile (IRE) 5-4fav (10-10) Raced wide in mid-division, headway to lead after 3 out, jumped left next, stayed on well, won at Perth 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Sept beating Komoto (10-3) by 10l, 9 ran.
Captain Marlon (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Held up, headway halfway, went 2nd 6f out to over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 36l behind Sound Accord (11-4) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gs in Mar.
Fox 'n' Goose (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Chased leading pair, went 2nd approaching 3 out, stayed on from next, always held, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Gironde (10-10) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf in May '05.
Granit Jack (FR) (10-10) Led 4 out, impressive, won at Pau 2m 3f chs in Feb beating Ordoudalle (9-11) by 8l, 9 ran.
