With AP McCoy having got down to 10st5lbs in the past year it's a concern he doesn't take the ride on BRAVEHEART MOVE, but we're still convinced he's the one to beat and select him ahead of Glingerbank and Sam Lord. Jonjo O'Neill's charge was decent on the flat and at one point was spoken of as a Derby candidate, so it'll have disappointed connections that he wasn't able to show more on his first two starts over hurdles having cost £150,000 at the October Newmarket Sales. His third place last time offered a bit more hope though and an opening mark of 108 could prove to be very generous - the market will tell us a bit more but we're hopeful he can prove himself well-treated. Glingerbank carries top weight but he did so admirably in a similar contest last time and can repeat that second place. The ten-year-old hasn't had all that much racing and could still be improving, so he's a solid each way bet in this line-up. Sam Lord has often threatened to be better than his rating but the Observatory gelding would surely prefer better ground and tends to find a couple too good whatever the task, so along with the exposed Root Cause looks worth taking on. Hi Dancer is a fascinating contender with AP booked - the gelding is his trainer's first runner and the market will shed light on whether he hopes to get off to the perfect start having taken over from father Pat. Along The Nile drops in class but hasn't shown much of his old sparkle of late so of more interest is Also Jo who ran a talented sort close when last out and has been given a very reasonable mark. Nevsky Bridge will need every pound of her rider's claim and more so in a race where the market may be the best guide we'll chance Braveheart Move.
Glingerbank (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, chased winner approaching 3 out, went 2nd last, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Cassius (11-1) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Sam Lord 15-2 (10-0) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway after 3 out, led after last, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 8, nk behind John Forbes (10-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Along The Nile 14-1 (10-3) Alwys behind, tailed off 3 out, 11th of 12, well behind Eradicate (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs.
Nelson du Ronceray (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway and in touch 4th, effort 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next, 6th of 11, 18l behind Grandad Bill (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Root Cause 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, ridden approaching last, kept on, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Benmadigan (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
Hi Dancer 8-1 (11-6) Always behind, 8th of 14, 27l behind Have You Seen Me (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Braveheart Move (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Not fluent early, led to 3rd, with winner and driven, outpaced 3 out, hit next, 4 lengths down when mistake last, no impression, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Drumshambo (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f Juvenile Maiden Hurdle (4yo) (4) gs.
Also Jo 33-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on from last, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Cunning Clarets (10-12) at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Nevsky Bridge 16-1 (11-0) Held up, in rear, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, last of 9, well behind Raysrock (11-12) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
