tracked leader, led 2 out, clear last, ridden out
not jump well in rear, struggling 6th, tailed off next, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leading pair to 7th, weakened next
tracked leading trio, went 3rd 7th, ridden and weakened between last 2
led until mistake and headed 2 out, no impression before last
held up in 5th, ridden 6th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
There is no getting away from Magnifico here and Martin Pipe's five-year-old is expected to give weight and a beating to Nice Try and Stoop To Conquer. The selection made a successful British debut when comfortably beating Beau De Turgeon at Hereford, with some decent enough types further behind. He will no doubt improve on that effort and looks a good thing to land this uncompetitive contest. Nice Try is from a yard that is flying at present and has shown plenty of promise in two runs to date. He looks the best option for forecast punters. Stoop To Conquer, rated in eighties on the flat, is surely better than he showed on his hurdles debut, although he will have to show vast improvement to beat our selection, which is Magnifico.
Magnifico (FR) 6-4fav (11-5) Held up in touch, led approaching 7th, challenged when mistake 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on gamely, won at Hereford 2m 3f nov hdl (E) gd in Nov beating Beau de Turgeon (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Captain's Legacy Bob's Return gelding out of Tuppence In Clover.
Gran Dana (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Held up, ridden and weakened 7th, 8th of 14, well behind Waterloo Son (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 3f mdn hdl (F) gs in Dec.
Nice Try (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) In touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 18, 11l behind Fier Normand (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec.
Stoop To Conquer 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, soon led, hit 4th, blundered 6th, headed after 7th, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 11, well behind Nippy Des Mottes (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (D) gs in Nov.
Trooper Kit 100-1 (10-12) Mistake and dropped rear, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Maximinus (10-5) at Windsor 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gs in Nov '04, 9 ran.