Lorient Express gets the confident vote here with Polished and Mystical Star rating the main dangers. The selection won with plenty in hand when beating Winsley last time out and although he has a penalty for that win he has conditions to suit and he is taken to defy the handicapper. Polished rates the main danger on his latest third behind Melford but he just gave the impression the handicap had caught up with him on that occasion and he looks opposable on that basis. Mystical Star was a fair second behind Julie's Boy last time out and is another with place claims but he has yet to win over a trip this far and for that reason he is opposed. Of the remainder Kosmos Bleu is from a yard in form and looks to be on a handy mark but he was let down by his jumping last time and for the winner we return to the in-form Lorient Express.
Kosmos Bleu (FR) 11-8fav (11-5) Took keen hold, prominent, not fluent 6th and lost place, mistake 10th, headway after 11th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, 24l behind Major Euro (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd.
Le Royal (FR) 11-1 (10-12) Held up, jumped slowly 10th, never troubled leaders, 4th of 8, 17l behind Wicked Nice Fella (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (D) gs.
Polished 13-8fav (11-0) Held up in touch, jumped left 9th and 10th, led 2 out, hit last, headed and no extra flat, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Melford (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Oct.
Lorient Express (FR) 7-2co-fav (10-7) Held up, mistake 8th, good headway to track leaders next, led going well before 2 out, in command last, comfortably, won at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gf beating Winsley (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Barton Nic 4-1 (11-7) Behind from 3rd and pulled up 3 out in race won by Laurier D'estruval (11-7) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Jupon Vert (FR) 8-1 (10-4) In touch, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 4th of 8, 10l behind Lorient Express (10-7) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gf.
Mystical Star (FR) 11-4fav (10-11) Held up, mistake 2nd, headway 7th, chased winner from 4 out, every chance 2 out, not pace of winner, hit last, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Julies Boy (9-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs.
