The step up to this trip proved to be ideal for Diamant Noir on her handicap debut last month and the progressive mare is taken to be too precocious for Champagne Harry, Torche and Samby on these terms. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained six-year-old has made a smooth transition from bumpers to hurdles and has got better with every run in this sphere. The fact that she would be giving weight away to all bar Champagne Harry if this were a handicap underlines her chance on the terms of the race and, with the ground not expected to pose any problems, the daughter of Sir Harry Lewis is a confident selection to oblige here. Champagne Harry has also improved greatly this season and is just preferred over each way hope, Torche, as the biggest danger to the selection. There should also be more to come from Kastari, who is surely better than he showed on his hurdles debut. But he in turn is likely to find Diamant Noir too hard to get past this afternoon.
