made all, driven 2 out, ridden clear between last 2, stayed on well, comfortably
chased leaders, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression
tracked winner, outpaced 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
behind, reminders 7th, soon lost touch, tailed off
chased leaders, struggling 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off
Alan King has his runners in good form at present so his representative here, Pennek, has to be respected on only his second start over fences but he will need to go better than on his chasing debut at Ffos Las last month to reverse form that day with SPECIAL ENVOY, who gets the vote ahead of Emperor Concerto. Lucy Wadham's gelding is unexposed after just seven career starts and the seven-year-old made a pleasing first start over the larger obstacles when chasing home Massasoit at Fakenham last month. He is open to plenty of improvement and looks the main threat to the selection. The Brig At Ayr and Ringsend Rose make very limited appeal and of more interest among the rest of the runners is Don McCain's Fabalu, who has shown gradual improvement in recent starts over fences. He has to be considered but it is hard to get away from Nicky Henderson's Special Envoy, who was easily the pick of these over hurdles and looks to be the pick of them over fences as well judged by his debut effort at Ffos Las.
Fabalu (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Led and set slow pace, driven and headed after 4 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Door Boy (11-4) at Newcastle 3m nov stks (3) hvy in Jan.
Pennek (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened from 4 out, 5th of 6, 17l behind The Sliotar (11-0) at Ffos Las 3m beg chase (4) sft in Jan.
Special Envoy (FR) 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 6, 8l behind The Sliotar (11-0) at Ffos Las 3m beg chase (4) sft in Jan.
The Brig At Ayr 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, reminders from 9th, behind when hampered and unseated rider 14th, in a race won by Vforvictory (11-0) at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Ringsend Rose (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Chased leader to 7th, dropped last approaching 12th, losing touch when badly hampered and left 4th 14th, left poor 3rd 3 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Quentin D'ex (11-0) at Towcester 3m beg chase (4) hvy in Jan.
Emperor Concerto 9-4 (11-0) Tracked leader, mistake 5 out, led next, headed 2 out, rallied but no extra close home, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Massasoit (11-0) at Fakenham 3m beg chase (4) sft in Jan.
