Having won a bumper first time out Jonjo O'Neill's Get Me Out Of Here has gone on to win all three subsequent starts over hurdles, including on his handicap debut at Newbury last month, and he has to be respected but a 12lb rise since that Newbury success looks harsh and preference is for PEPE SIMO, who can justify the ante post support and take the honours ahead of Fairyland. Nicky Henderson's gelding has improved with each start this term and was good value for his win at Newbury last month for which a 7lb rise is perfectly fair. Henderson is also represented by French import Stravinsky Dance, who makes his British debut today and he cannot be ruled out but he is hard to evaluate from a handicapping perspective. Gary Moore's Harry Tricker ran a cracker when narrowly beaten in the Greatwood last month and is bound to be popular with backers following that effort but an 8lb rise since then makes this more difficult. Frontier Dancer is closely matched with Fairyland on running last time but needs to improve and of more interest may be Zabeel Palace. Barney Curley's gelding has shown much improved form since returning from a long absence in September, winning four of his five starts but another 6lb rise for his latest success may anchor him. David Pipe's Mamlook found just Darley Sun too good in the Cesarewitch last season and made a decent return to hurdles when again filling second spot in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton and he has to be considered. Preference though is for Pepe Simo, who has been well supported on the build up to this race, represents the Paul Nicholls stable that has dominated big Saturday handicaps and, following decent efforts in novice hurdles, he looks worth siding with on his handicap debut off what looks a fair mark.
Pepe Simo (IRE) 10-11fav (11-8) Held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, went 2nd approaching next, led last, stayed on well, driven out, won at Haydock 2m lst nov hdl (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov beating Any Given Day (11-6) by 5l, 6 ran.
Alsadaa (USA) 20-1 (11-12) Soon chased leader until driven and weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 13l behind Dani's Girl (9-9) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Mamlook (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, every chance after 3 out, weakened after next, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Celestial Halo (11-10) at Wincanton 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Stravinsky Dance (10-1) 9th of 11, well behind Rendons Grace (10-5) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 3f hdl sft in Jun.
Nampour (FR) 15-2 (10-13) Held up, ridden approaching 3 out, headway 2 out, stayed on from last, 4th of 12, 6l behind Fairyland (10-8) at Newbury 2m listed hcp hdl 0-145 (1) gs in Nov.
Stow 11-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along after 4th, lost position when fell next, in a race won by Royal Charm (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f 4yo hcp hdl (2) hvy, 6 ran.
Treaty Flyer (IRE) 4-1fav (10-12) With leaders, outpaced when hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last, 4th of 10, 23l behind Santia (10-12) at Wetherby 2m mrs lst hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Frontier Dancer (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up, tracked leaders approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, kept on from last, not pace of winner, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Fairyland (10-8) at Newbury 2m listed hcp hdl 0-145 (1) gs in Nov.
European Dream (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, blundered 4th, stayed on approaching last, never in contention, 6th of 15, 18l behind Khyber Kim (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
Tullamore Dew (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, led and hit 3 out, ridden approaching next, ridden and edged left flat, soon headed, rallied near finish, 2nd of 12, nk behind Dontpaytheferryman (9-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
Get Me Out Of Here (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, smooth headway on inside from 3 out, chased leaders after 2 out, challenged last, pushed along to lead final 150 yards, comfortably, won at Newbury 2m Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-130) (4yo+) (3) sft in Nov beating Yetholm (10-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
Harry Tricker 6-1fav (10-3) Held up in touch, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged next, still every chance flat, stayed on, not pace of winner, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Khyber Kim (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
Fairyland (GER) 9-2 (10-8) Chased leaders, led 3 out, under pressure 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on well driven out, won at Newbury 2m listed hcp hdl 0-145 (1) gs in Nov beating Frontier Dancer (11-3) by 5l, 12 ran.
Hibiki (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Held up in mid-division, ridden and hit 3 out, weakened soon after, 11th of 12, 21l behind Dani's Girl (9-9) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Ronaldo Des Mottes (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 14th of 15, 41l behind Khyber Kim (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
Takestan (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Always in rear, ridden and no impression 3 out, trailing when hampered 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Dunguib (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m nov hdl G1 hvy.
Argento Luna 11-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway and not clear run after 2 out, stayed on well, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Amber Brook (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Oldrik (GER) 10-1 (10-7) In rear, headway bend approaching 2 out, soon went 3rd, ridden and every chance last, stayed on, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Zabeel Palace (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Gee Dee Nen 12-1 (10-10) Soon led, headed 3 out, weakened approaching next, 7th of 12, 34l behind Fairyland (10-8) at Newbury 2m listed hcp hdl 0-145 (1) gs in Nov.
Zabeel Palace 9-4fav (10-3) Held up in touch, travelling well and headway bend approaching 2 out, soon chase leader, ridden to lead soon after last, stayed on readily, won at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov beating Oldrik (10-7) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Overstrand (IRE) 5-2fav (10-6) Prominent, pushed along 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 9l behind Tasheba (11-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) hvy.
