It probably shouldn't be a surprise, as a half brother to Kauto Star, that Kauto Grand Mogol would put up his best performance yet, over the longest trip that he's encountered. The extended two and three quarter mile Exit 6 To The Horse & Jockey Rated Novice Hurdle may only have had four runners but Kauto Grand Mogol was impressive when coming home thirty two lengths clear under Brian O'Connell at Thurles.

Liz Doyle's runner is a little flattered by the winning margin, as Draycott Place crashed out at the last, but he was going to bolt up in any case and did so in the end from Bosman Rule

Kauto Grand Mogol was the 9/10 favourite as he dropped back from the Grade 2 company he'd been keeping at Navan on his previous start and his trainer Liz Doyle reasoned: "I was quite hopeful going to Navan but he never travelled or jumped or picked up the bit. I'm hoping to draw a line through that run as he was completely flat and dead and that isn't like him.

"He was back to what he should be doing there and I'll run him back in Graded company at the end of January/February next. I'm hoping he's better than that the Navan run though." (TW & EM)