tracked leading pair, not fluent and reminder after 5th, soon went 2nd, jumped right next and 7th, challenged 2 out, ridden and virtually upsides last, kept on same pace, no impression flat
tracked leader to after 5th, behind from 7th, no chance with leaders after, tailed off
held up behind in touch, headway 3 out, challenged after next, virtually upsides last, ridden and one pace flat, no impression final 100 yards
led, driven when joined 2 out, soon hard pressed, ridden after last, kept on, headed and not pace of easy winner final 50 yards
tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd approaching 6th, challenged on bit on inside after 2 out, virtually upsides last, forged into lead final 50 yards, unextended
Thomas Crapper made a very promising start over fences behind Court Minstrel at Cheltenham but is sure to benefit from a longer trip in future, as is Sea Current. Vibrato Valtat's defeat of Sign Of Victory at Ayr in April looks better now than it did at the time and he's run well in both starts since. He would be carrying plenty of weight in handicaps if sticking to hurdles so the switch to fences has probably been forced upon Paul Nicholls but he shouldn't be ignored. GRUMETI was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and made a successful start over the larger obstacles at Bangor in the spring. He could develop into one of this season's leading novices and can defy a 5lb penalty on his reappearance.
Grumeti 2-5fav (10-12) Jumped well, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 7th, led travelling well before last, came clear run-in, easily, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov chs (4) gd in May beating Fairyinthewind (10-5) by 9l, 5 ran.
Rock Of Fife 66-1 (11-2) Mid-division, weakened from 6th, 6th of 8, well behind Dunraven Storm (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
Sea Current (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 6th, mistake 4 out, weakened after next, 4th of 7, 22l behind Sgt Reckless (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
Thomas Crapper 4-1 (11-2) Mistake 1st, led narrowly, headed 4th, pressed leader, led again narrowly 2 out, ridden after last, headed and not pace of winner flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Court Minstrel (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs (2) gd in Oct.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 11-4fav (11-6) Held up towards rear on inside, smooth headway 3 out, challenged last, ridden to lead briefly flat, no extra in 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Roman Flight (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-140) (3yo+) (3) gd in Oct.
