SILK DRUM should take the world of beating in this Novice Chase leaving Dinarius and Eyre Square scrapping for minor prizes. The selection seems to have scared off plenty of potentially rivals by his presence in this contest and it's easy to see why. Easily the highest rated in the race with a mark of 140 he is really well in at the weights and Howard Johnston's charge is also on form having returned from a break to land a similar small field event last time. Should things go wrong for the selection Dinarius looks best placed to take advantage. He has plenty to do based on his hurdles form on this his chase debut but he comes here off the back of a win in testing ground at Towcester and he has also scored on his only previous run at this track. Eyre Square is lightly raced and has returned from over 600 days away from the racecourse with a couple of solid efforts over timber but will need plenty more to score on his chasing bow. Both St Killian's Run and Baltic Pathfinder look up against it in this race but have experience to call on, however, it is impossible to ignore the chances of Silk Drum.
Silk Drum (IRE) 4-9fav (10-7) Led from 3rd, ridden flat, kept on well, won at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) gd in Oct beating All For The Cause (11-2) by 4l, 4 ran.
Baltic Pathfinder (IRE) 11-4 (10-11) Led, headed 6th, tracked leader, ridden after 5 out, lost place next, soon weakened, left 4th last, 4th of 6, 18l behind Blacks Bridge (11-3) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Eyre Square (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, chased leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 15, 12l behind Rollwiththepunches (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft in Jan.
St Killian's Run (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Held up, outpaced after 5 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 41l behind Blacks Bridge (11-3) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Dinarius 9-2 (11-9) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway when mistake 3rd, challenged 2 out, soon led, driven flat, all out (no time taken), won at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Jan beating Oh No Not Harry (11-4) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
