disputed lead until 2nd, chased winner, mistake 6th, lost 2nd before 4 out, soon weakened
jumped right, made virtually all, pushed along before last, ridden flat, stayed on
chased leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden and unable to trouble winner flat
in rear, behind 5th, not fluent next, well tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
GRAND ROI finished ninth in the Coral Cup over hurdle last season and the former Gordon Elliott inmate will be an interesting project for James Owen as the seven-year-old bids for a first success over fences. Fringill Dike is 2-2 over the larger obstacles and convincingly made all on a recent start at Uttoxeter. Glory And Honour won on soft going at Cartmel on his first start for Sam England in a similarly small field and must be respected. With A Start has a mountain to climb if official handicap figures are any guide.
Grand Roi (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 3 out, pushed along and no impression before next, 5th and ridden early run-in, kept on one pace, 5th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Grozni (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 3f gd in Aug.
Fringill Dike (IRE) 85-40fav (12-0) Tended to jump right, made all, 3 lengths ahead 4 out, maintained advantage 3 out, 2 lengths head 2 out, 1 length ahead approaching last, kept on well run-in, all out near finish but held on, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gd in Aug beating Fearless (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Glory And Honour (IRE) 16-5 (10-12) In rear, headway under pressure to go 2nd last, pressed leader flat, could not go by, ran on, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Guinness Affair (11-8) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
With A Start (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Raced in last, outpaced before 3 out, never able to land a blow, 3rd of 4, dist behind Guinness Affair (12-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
