held up in mid-division, headway 5th, soon chasing leaders, led on bit approaching last, pushed clear, impressive
led, not fluent 4 out, driven after 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge before 2 out, soon one pace, lost 3rd close home
held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, effort approaching last, stayed on well to take 3rd closing stages, never able to challenge
tracked leaders, under pressure 3 out, weakened after next
raced in rear, keen early, ridden after 3 out, soon no impression
pulled hard in rear, headway 4th, soon tracking leaders, lost place after 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, under pressure 4 out, soon behind, tailed off
mid-division, headway to chase leaders when not fluent 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out
Grandouet, well ahead of Two Kisses when second to Sam Winner in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in November, got off the mark in this country when beating stablemate A Media Luz at Newbury last month. That's probably decent form and he sets the standard here but has to give 10lb to PLENTY POCKET. A winner twice on the Flat in France last year Paul Nicholls' hurdling newcomer, who has a jumping pedigree, had Magic Prospect behind at Saint-Cloud last June and will have had plenty of schooling. With Ian Popham's claim reducing his weight by a further 5lb, he could be the one to beat. Ostentation and Truly Magic were both winners on the level but could have stamina issues over timber.
Grandouet (FR) 11-10fav (11-8) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd at 2nd, led on inside approaching 2 out, over 2 lengths ahead last, soon drew clear and heavily eased flat, won at Newbury 2m 3yo hdl (3) gs in Dec beating A Media Luz (10-5) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Two Kisses (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, led 3 out, headed when blundered 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 15, 35l behind Sam Winner (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.
L'eminence Grise (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Pecked 1st, chased leader until 2nd, stayed well there in 3rd, disputing 2nd 3 out, soon ridden and weakened after next, 4th of 8, 24l behind Grandouet (11-8) at Newbury 2m 3yo hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Looks Like Slim 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 5th, not fluent 2 out, stayed on flat, nearest finish, 7th of 16, 6l behind Tony Star (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs.
Magic Prospect (FR) 40-1 (9-1) Tracked leader until over 5f out, soon lost place, last and strugging 3f out, tailed off, last of 12, 45l behind Mikhail Glinka (9-1) at Royal Ascot 2m 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun (flat).
Ostentation 9-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced when not much room and switched left inside final 2f, kept on same pace final furlong, no impression, 4th of 10, 7l behind Inpursuitoffreedom (8-9) at Newmarket 1m 3yo app hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Oct (flat).
Plenty Pocket (FR) (8-5) 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind Representing (9-6) at Craon(FR) 1m 4f stk gd in Sep (flat).
Singapore Storm (FR) Sagacity gelding out of Castlevania.
Whitby Jack 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, not fluent next, headwy 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Music Of The Moor (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) hvy, 12 ran.
Truly Magic 33-1 (8-5) Slight lead until 4f out, chased leaders until ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 14, 26l behind Toby Tyler (8-12) at Leicester 7f 3yo & 4yo sll (6) gs in Oct (flat).
