A former winner here over hurdles, Out On The Tear has also won over fences and he’s slipped to a fair mark. Heritier has won three times over the larger obstacles and took advantage of a lenient mark to score over hurdles at Uttoxeter a couple of weeks ago. Upagainstit is back over 2m for the first time since winning off this mark at Warwick in the spring but, providing he can lay up the pace over this trip, COULDBEAWEAPON may have more scope than these in chases.
Couldbeaweapon (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Close up, pushed along before 5th, hit 4 out and reminders, soon tailed off, last of 5, 32 1/4l behind Benassi (12-5) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Texard (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Led, fell 2nd, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Out On The Tear (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Raced wide, in touch in rear, wide and headway after 3 out, ridden and every chance next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 12l behind General Medrano (12-0) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Heritier (FR) 7-4jfav (11-9) In rear, in touch, not fluent 1st, closed up behind leaders 2 out, steady headway and led jumping last, hung left and drew away run-in, comfortably, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) hvy in Nov beating Atreides (12-0) by 6l, 5 ran.
Eskendash (USA) 80-1 (11-3) Rear mid-division, went remote 4th before 10th, weakened quickly home turn, 6th of 8, dist behind Restandbethankful (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Upagainstit (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Raced wide tracking leader, led after 8th, headed before 13th, lost 2nd after 3 out, chased leaders, weakened 2 out, 5th of 8, 20 3/4l behind Special Rate (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Rafferty (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Handy, pushed along before 2 out, gradually weakened, 6th of 9, 12 3/4l behind Apologise (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Gouet Des Bruyeres (FR) 33-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd 11th until pushed along turning in, lost 3rd and weakening when mistake 2 out, 6th of 11, 16l behind Tom Creen (12-0) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Go Fox 18-1 (11-3) Led, headed 6th, tracked leaders, pushed along next, soon weakened, blundered and nearly unseated rider 4 out, mistake next, pulled up last, at Ludlow 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
