Green Day Packer, Straithard and Sunquest are proven in this grade and Santera shaped well last time but Nota Liberata is the pick. A fair performer on the level, he showed plenty of promise on his first three starts over hurdles for George Moore and looks to have sound claims dropped to this grade on his first start for Ollie Pears. All three runs came on quick ground but some of his best performances on the Flat came with cut and he can be expected to go close. Green Day Packer may have been freshened up by a break but has to prove himself on this ground whilst Strathaird has twice been well beaten since winning at Wetherby in November. Sunquest wasn't beaten far that day but has been off since and is another unproven on the ground; that's also the case with Santera but his pedigree offers cause for encouragement and he ran well enough in a novice hurdle last time to merit consideration but Nota Liberata is a more solid selection.
Green Day Packer (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 13, 42l behind Yellow Flag (10-11) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Strathaird (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, went remote 3rd after 3 out, kept on same pace, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 9, 24l behind Bobansheil (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gs in Dec.
Fistral 100-1 (11-0) Chased leaders to 4 out, soon weakened, 12th of 18, 31l behind Furmigadelagiusta (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Heaven's Gates 100-1 (10-12) Led, driven and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 22l behind Serabad (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Nota Liberata 6-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, headway after 4th, outpaced 2 out, no chance after, 3rd of 6, 17l behind John Dillon (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Presque Perdre 33-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, led 4th, headed 3 out, weakened next, 9th of 13, 48l behind La Vecchia Scuola (10-5) at Catterick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Sun Quest 15-8fav (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Strathaird (10-5) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (5) gf in Nov.
Winter Lane 66-1 (8-2) Keen, tracked leader, ridden 6f out, weakened over 4f out, 6th of 7, well behind Three Boars (8-13) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec (Flat).
Never Panic (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Furmigadelagiusta (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Santera (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Held up, outpaced 5th, never dangerous, 5th of 13, 19l behind Domino Dancer (10-7) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Dec.
The Mighty Ogmore 25-1 (10-5) Always behind, 13th of 16, well behind Soliya (11-1) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Sept.
