made all, ridden before 2 out, kept on well
tracked leaders, reminders before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked winner until weakened before 3 out
in rear, headway before 3 out, chased winner before last, lost 2nd towards finish
held up in touch, chased winner before 3 out until before last, soon weakened
towards rear, headway before 2 out, kept on to take 2nd towards finish
The Grand Visir, a useful Flat performer, will have had plenty of schooling since trying to refuse and unseating his rider at the first at Aintree but is probably best watched on this occasion. Constancio keeps finding one too good but will ensure there is no hanging around and the form of his latest run at Wetherby has been franked. GROVEMAN made mistakes and took a while to warm to his task at Catterick but he produced a power-packed finish to justify market support and there should be plenty more to come from Jedd O’Keeffe’s four-year-old. Magellan travelled strongly for a long way when fourth here earlier in the month and is another with scope while Saryshagann won five times on the Flat and David O’Meara has booked Richard Johnson for his hurdles bow.
Constancio (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Led, ridden after 2 out (usual 3 out), joined bypassing omitted 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Doctor Dex (11-5) at Wetherby 2m mdn (4) gd in Jan.
Magellan 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, effort before 3 out, outpaced before next, 4th and no extra approaching last, 4th of 7, 17 1/4l behind Diamond Gait (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gd in Jan.
Near Kettering 33-1 (10-12) Behind, struggling 4 out, ridden and weakened after next, tailed off, last of 10, dist behind Encore Champs (11-4) at Kelso 2m (4) gd in Jan.
Saryshagann (FR) 9-2 (10-2) Led after 2f, ridden and headed 3f out, plugged on same pace, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Vivernus (9-6) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
The Eagle's Nest (IRE) 7-2fav (9-11) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Given Choice (9-9) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
The Grand Visir 9-1 (10-12) Led, wandered, almost refused and unseated rider 1st, at Aintree 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec.
Groveman 9-4fav (10-12) Held up in last pair, 5th and plenty to do 2 out, headway between last 2, went 2nd approaching last, stayed on to lead final 110 yards, won at Catterick 2m (4) gd in Jan beating Dagian (10-12) by 1l, 7 ran.
