tracked leader, led 5th, made rest, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and stayed on gamely flat
led until mistake and headed 5th, tracked winner, lost place 13th, ridden and no chance with leading pair from 3 out, tailed off
held up 4th and last, struggling 11th, tailed off 4 out
tracked leading pair, headway to go 2nd 13th, challenged 2 out, hard ridden and every chance between last 2, kept on until no extra towards finish
Viking Rebel has an outstanding chance here, and he is taken to get the better of Costa Courta, with the remaining pair having a battle for third. Still a maiden in ten starts to date, Costa Courta has nonetheless shown ability in his runs over fences. He has only completed in two of his four starts so far, but he held every chance in his last contest, before losing his jockey at the third from home. A runner-up before that, he looks fully capable of getting off the mark over fences, but has a stiff task at the weights, and looks guaranteed to make at least one bad mistake. He will not be able to afford to do that here. Viking Rebel is a dual winner over hurdles, and has been taking on some very useful types over fences, running with credit. Nicky Henderson has found a great opening for Viking Rebel, and he can take full advantage.
Costa Courta (FR) 5-1fav (11-10) Travelled strongly towards rear, headway 9th, close 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Noakarad De Verzee (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 12 ran.
Huntingford (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Always strugling in rear, last of 5, well behind Lady An Co (10-4) at Taunton 2m beg chase (4) gf.
One More Native (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) (tt) wl bhnd til fell 10, in a race won by The Humbel Monk (12-0) at Whitwick Manor 3m ptp in Feb '09, 18 ran.
Viking Rebel (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, mistakes 1st and 10th, driven 4 out, never on terms, 4th of 5, 37l behind The Nightingale (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) sft in Feb.
