Busker Royal has won both starts this season over fences and Nicky Henderson's gelding now reverts to hurdles off what seems a fair mark so he has to be strongly considered but he seems better over the larger obstacles and looks worth opposing at the likely odds with preference for SHORE THING, who gets the vote over King Ar Aghaidh. David Arbuthnot's gelding put up a good performance when successful at Kempton last month but an 8lb rise for that win leaves him with more to do today and he may be best watched. Nicky Henderson's Scots Dragoon should appreciate the return to hurdles but is probably a shade high in the weights at present off an 8lb higher mark than when a narrow winner two starts ago. The Philip Hobbs-trained Robo won well in a novices' hurdle at Southwell at the beginning of the month but he faces no easy task on his handicap debut off a mark of 114 and a bigger threat may come from stable companion Triggerman, who is similarly lightly raced and looks to be going the right way. Preference though is for Charlie Egerton's Shore Thing, who showed decent form when landing a claimer two outings ago and was narrowly beaten off the same mark that he can race off today when second to Special Occasion at Taunton last time.
Shore Thing (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Made most from 2nd, hard pressed 2 out, headed when not fluent last, ridden, kept on under pressure flat, held near finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Special Occasion (11-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Busker Royal 4-7fav (11-6) Held up in rear but not far away, improved to chase leader 4 out, led soon after 3 out, ridden next, ran on flat, comfortably, won at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gd in Nov beating Nom de Guerre (11-0) by 9l, 5 ran.
Barnhill Brownie (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) In rear, jumped poorly, jumped very slowly 2nd and soon behind, tried to refuse 4th, jumped very slowly next, soon pulled up, in a race won by Theatrical Moment (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd, 8 ran.
Honour High 16-1 (11-11) Mid-division until 8th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Macmar (9-10) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
Attorney General (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Prominent, chased leaders 3rd until 9th, weakened 2 out, 8th of 18, 39l behind Lie Forrit (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
King Ar Aghaidh (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon chasing leaders, led approaching 2 out, ran on well, won at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov beating Corker (10-11) by 12l, 10 ran.
Triggerman 11-4 (10-12) Held up, headway 8th, went 2nd 3 out, effort next, soon ridden, one pace, no impression flat, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Valentine Vic (10-12) at Taunton 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Scots Dragoon 7-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, left in close 3rd at 16th, took narrow lead on inside before 4 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, outpaced by winner run-in, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Shillingstone (11-3) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Very Cool 25-1 (10-12) Led to 2nd, chased leaders, jumped slowly 6th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, mistakes 2 out, 10th of 18, 46l behind Lie Forrit (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Antonius Caesar (FR) 14-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, lost place 7th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Silver By Nature (11-0) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov, 14 ran.
National Trust 5-1 (11-10) Chased leader, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Stripe Me Blue (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb '08, 11 ran.
Galaxy Rock (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Towards rear, headway on outside approaching 7th, lost place 9th, blundered badly 3 out, weakened before next, 11th of 18, 46l behind Lie Forrit (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Sashenka 11-1 (11-12) Led, hit 4th, soon headed, remained prominent, lost place before 4 out, weakening when mistake 3 out, behind when pulled up before next, in a race won by King Ar Aghaidh (11-9) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
In Media Res (FR) 6-1 (10-8) Patiently ridden in rear, ridden, headway after 3 out, led, hit 2 out, not fluent last, ran on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in May '08 beating Critical Stage (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Bella Haze 14-1 (11-5) Led, hit 3rd, headed soon after 3 out, no impression after next, left modest 3rd and hampered last, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Ocean Transit (11-3) at Ludlow 2m Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-115) (3yo+) (4) sft.
Robo (FR) 8-1 (10-4) Chased leader, led last, driven out, won at Southwell 2m 4f cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) gd beating Tuskar Rock (10-9) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
I'm Supreme (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Chased leaders until 9th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Midas Way (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov '08, 10 ran.
Bet Out Of It (IRE) 7-2fav (11-11) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, disputed 4 out, 2nd when fell 3 out, in a race won by Irish Poli (11-3) at Sligo 2m 4f hcp hdl gd in Jun, 16 ran.
