A brave effort by front-runner JURADO EXPRESS saw him repel all challengers and defy theories that he stays barely more than 2m.

He had gone some way to nailing that idea over Kempton's 2m4f track in March, and comfortably coped with this stiffer course and slightly longer trip. His jumping is a joy, and tends to get higher at the end of races - he was entered for the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree last month, and that would seem to be a logical target next year, even though he will have turned 13. He's certainly giving his capable young amateur some useful experience.

The defection of likely favourite Holy Joe, on account of the ground, eased the passage to victory, but that horse would have needed to be at his best to beat Jurado Express, who pulled clear on the run-in when pressed by Hambaphambili and Oracle Des Mottes. The runner-up chased home stablemate Fergal's Find on his previous outing and again ran well, while Oracle Des Mottes has been performing well in points, and came up against useful ex-hurdler Quick when beaten on his previous outing.

Cape Stormer has been an outstanding servant to the Gorman family over many years, but at 13 he is probably not as quick and could not go the pace to get competitive.

Machrihanish beat useful Twenty Degrees at Taunton last month, but was pulled up before the ninth on this occasion.

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