Kicks For Free can give weight and a beating to Leg Spinner and County Zen. Paul Nicholls' charge looked useful last year but had training troubles that prevented his acceleration to the top echelon. He did not look overfazed at Kempton on his seasonal reappearance and if he does not bounce, he has to have a fair chance at decent odds. Leg Spinner is always to be feared whenever Tony Martin has runners at Prestbury Park. A class act on the level, he will have been laid out for this engagement. County Zen finished a fair third in the Totesport Trophy. That looked to be one of the most competitive handicaps of the season and he cannot be ruled out. Song Of Songs has been hard to beat in novice company but now takes on opposition outside of that comfort zone. Junior put up an improved effort on his latest start and should enjoy this afternoon's ground. The Package was held in high rank earlier in the season while Naiad Du Misselot has been given a typically quiet campaign by Ferdy Murphy and wouldn't be out of this if the ground was sticky. Warne's Way has not disgraced himself in big fields in the past and could work as a sporting selection at slightly longer odds. 2004 County Hurdle winner Sporazene reverts to the smaller obstacles after a couple of faux pas over chase fences. Competitive is an understatement to describe this race and Kicks For Free can take this under top-weight.
Kicks For Free (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, smooth headway after 3 out, led on bit last, ran on well, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb beating Chiaro (11-4) by 3l, 8 ran.
Whispered Promises (USA) 8-1 (11-2) Led, hit 4th, ridden after next, headed approaching 3 out, weakened, 15th of 24, 21l behind Wingman (10-0) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Sporazene (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Held up, blundered 10th, effort to chase leaders after 4 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 5, 26l behind Tikram (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Feb.
Liberate 10-3 (10-12) Prominent, led 2nd, not fluent, headed 6th, lead again 8th, blundered, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 15l behind Pouvoir (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec.
Bedlam Boy (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Held up, never dangerous, 13th of 18, 32l behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Warne's Way (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led 4th, ridden after 2 out, headed after last, kept on, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind The Tother One (10-9) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Astarador (FR) 2-1 (11-4) Made all, hit 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb beating Border Tale (9-11) by 2l, 7 ran.
Orbit O'Gold (USA) 10-1 (11-6) Towards rear when ridden 3 out, never in contention after, 10th of 19, 30l behind Sizing Europe (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Overstrand (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, weakened before 2 out, 12th of 18, 30l behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Pablo Du Charmil (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, hit 9th, soon ridden, hit 4 out, weakened after next, 5th of 6, 36l behind Master Minded (11-4) at Newbury 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
The Package 14-1 (11-12) Led, ridden after last, headed and not pace of winner close home, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Punchestowns (11-2) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Leg Spinner (IRE) 11-10fav (11-12) Towards rear in moderate 7th, no impression under pressure approaching 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, no extra, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Kingsmaster (11-3) at Listowel 2m hdl sft in Sept.
County Zen (FR) 16-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 24, 4l behind Wingman (10-0) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Laustra Bad (FR) 7-2fav (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 10, 9l behind Missis Potts (10-13) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Nov.
Junior 8-1 (11-3) Soon mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon chasing leaders, not fluent next, stayed on strongly under pressure, 2nd of 11, shd behind Hold Em (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Hill Forts Timmy 40-1 (11-2) Behind, headway 3 out, soon no impression, 9th of 18, 27l behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Take Your Mark (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Mid-division, 9th halfway, headway to 6th 2 out, ran on well after last to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 16, 1l behind Fen Game (10-7) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 81-123 gs in Feb.
Mendo 8-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 4th of 15, 6l behind The Tother One (10-9) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Clarnazar (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th and ridden 4 out, 6th 2 out, headway entering straight, close 2nd last, led close home, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl gs in Feb beating Fond Of A Drop (11-12) by a nk, 16 ran.
Baltiman (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Led, clear before 4 out, ridden and strongly pressed after 2 out, headed after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Jered (11-6) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl gs in Feb.
Chiaro (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Held up, in touch, headway to track leaders 3 out, led and hit 2 out, headed last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Kicks For Free (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Naiad du Misselot (FR) 11-1 (10-0) Held up, headway approaching last, soon ridden, led flat, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec beating Regal Heights (10-11) by 4l, 11 ran.
Superior Wisdom (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 7th, led 2 out, kept on well under pressure flat, won at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gs in Feb beating Auroras Encore (11-4) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Peacock (FR) 9-1 (10-10) Behind, headway before 3 out, led before 2nd last, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 18, nk behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Tagula Blue (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, mistake 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next, 8th of 14, 26l behind Oh Crick (11-5) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Song of Songs 5-6fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, headed flat, rallied and led towards finish, all out, won at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Hot Diamond (10-0) by a shd, 18 ran.
Pyleigh Lady 14-1 (11-5) Held up, hit 8th, smooth headway 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Stripe Me Blue (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Shazand (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, 10th 4 out, weakened from next, 22nd of 28, well behind Barker (10-6) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan.
