pressed leaders to 4 out, went 2nd between last 2, led last, clear when idled flat, ridden out
always behind, outpaced 4 out, no chance
led, ridden and pressed 2 out, narrowly headed last, not pace of winner flat, kept on gamely to hold clear 2nd
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4 out, upsides next, ridden and still every chance 2 out, weakened before last
Triumph Hurdle winner Made In Japan was an easy winner of his debut over fences at Kempton last month and is taken to score from another four-year-old Le Seychellois and Contraband. The last mentioned represents the powerful owner/trainer/jockey combination of David Johnson, Martin Pipe and Timmy Murphy and was himself a useful hurdler last season. The son of Red Ransom has twice found one too good over fences, latterly when beaten by the exciting novice Fundamentalist at Cheltenham and the gelding may again have to settle for a minor role. Le Seychellois, a dual winner over hurdles in France, made a winning start to his career with Paul Nicholls when landing a four-year-old novices' chase at Warwick last month and has to be respected. He makes more appeal than the Ron Hodges-trained Goldbrook, who looks to be out of his depth in this company. Hugh Morrison's The Last Cast may not have achieved much when winning at Uttoxeter last month but did all that was asked of him and cannot be ruled out entirely but Made In Japan looks a decent recruit to the novice chasing ranks and is taken to follow up his Kempton success.
