made virtually all, not fluent 3 out, clear approaching last, pushed out and flashed tail flat
chased leaders, joined winner 6th, mistake 7th, jumped right from next, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
keen, chased winner after 2nd, 2 after 5th, weakened 7th
Jack The Giant has a penalty to carry for his five length defeat of the Paul Nicholls-trained Nippy Des Mottes at Sandown last time but Nicky Henderson's gelding looked a useful recruit to the chasing ranks that day and is taken to follow up here at the main expense of Caribou and Double Spectre. The last mentioned comes here fit from the flat and showed some promise over hurdles but would need to improve for the switch to chasing to trouble the judge. Tudor Oak is no better than plating class and a bigger threat is likely to come from Oliver Sherwood's Caribou, who is lightly raced and showed promise on his chasing debut at Worcester last month. Jack The Giant was progressive on the flat and over hurdles and has already shown himself to be a decent chaser in the making so he gets the vote to follow up his Sandown success.
Jack The Giant (IRE) 4-5fav (10-7) Made all, pecked 1st, not fluent last, ran on well, readily, won at Sandown 2m beg chs (3) gf beating Nippy Des Mottes (11-5) by 5l, 4 ran.
Caribou (FR) 5-2fav (10-5) Mid-division, headway 7th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Briery Fox (11-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct.
Double Spectre (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed before 3 out, beaten when blundered 2 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Spidam (11-4) at Sandown 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
Tudor Oak (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) In touch, effort 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 14, 15l behind Tirailleur (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Aug.
