3:40 Mason Jar @4/1 (11/8 two places and 4/6 three places)
This horse really impressed me in his first chase race, finishing fourth of five behind Coolanly at Fontwell, where he jumped well and ran to a good level in defeat. He finished behind Coolanly (135) I K Brunel (140) and Full Back (125) but that doesn't really tell the full story.
At two out we saw four in line, Full Back was handily placed at this point and Mason Jar had been asked to close. After two out, Mason Jar was going third best behind and close to Coolanly and IK Brunel, and at the last he began to fade. Sam TD was very kind on him after the last and let him come home as he wanted, finishing about 8 lengths off the winner.
Now for me the race showed me two things, importantly that he jumps well and secondly that he probably needs less of a test of stamina, being found out by the extended 2m5 trip and the soft ground at Fontwell.
Today he gets an extended 2m3f trip on good ground, in a race that doesn't look the most competitive in the world. I expect they will ride him prominently here, try and use the jumping ability that he showed on debut to get others out of their rhythm and ground. Off a mark of 127 I expect him to be competitive at the very least, and I do expect him to improve further over fences.
His rivals today include Dr Sanderson who heads the weights for Paul Nicholls, he hasn't impressed me in his chase races last season and I think he makes the market here for others. I obviously respect the yard and connections, but I would say he should be the same price as Mason Jar or longer on what they've shown.
Gateway To Europe ran very well in the Ga Law/Getaway Trump race, but ultimately I think the horse is flattered by the result, he looked to be the third best horse in the race by a long way, but only Getaway Trump blowing up allowed him to finish second. He was also a lot worse than the 5 length margin from the winner, who was given a very easy time of it from the last, unlike Gateway To Europe who was driven out to beat Getaway Trump.
He did jump well for a novice, and has to be respected, and I thought he would be shorter than Dr Sanderson because of that run. I am happy to take him on though with the thinking that he was flattered that race and that the form isn't to be taken literally.
Enrichissant is the one I think could be the main danger in the race, however this is a career high mark and the Huntingdon form isn't working out at all. He won the same day Project Mars won at Huntingdon and the ground was absolutely awful, which is a very different test to today! If he gets backed then that would be ominous.
Copper Coin is another horse in here that is interesting, however I thought this was a tough ask on chase debut, and I think his mark is high enough on what has been shown. Then you've got the dark horse Eragon De Chanay of the Moore yard, which could easily be plotted up for this on return. I haven't liked the way this horse jumps fences though, and in this race that could be all important.
