tracked winner throughtout, no impression from 3 out
made all, jumped well, quickened clear after 3 out, ran on strongly, eased towards finish
tracked clear pair, never dangerous
in rear, soon well behind, tailed off
Last year's Champion Hurdle runner-up Overturn will be a very short price here to follow up a debut success over fences at Sandown but will need to step up a couple of notches on that form to take this. At the likely odds, we will take a chance on WIESENTRAUM upsetting the apple cart. Lucy Wadham's charge came from a long way off the pace to score over C&D last month and is guaranteed a strong gallop here with Attaglance, third over 3m here last time, certain to take on Overturn at the head of affairs. Conquisto's jumping left something to be desired over track and trip 11 days ago but he still pulled readily clear of a decent field of novices and will have learned from the experience. He could be a danger under McCoy but What Er Say looks to be well out of his depth.
Conquisto 11-4fav (10-12) Prominent, not fluent 1st, led 4th, headed 6th, led again before 4 out, clear 2 out, easily, won at Doncaster 2m nov chs (4) sft in Dec beating Ciceron (10-12) by 14l, 6 ran.
Overturn (IRE) 3-10fav (11-1) Jumped well, made all and soon clear, steadied approaching 4th, drew clear again 6th, unchallenged and most impressive chase debut, won at Sandown 2m beg chs (4) gs in Nov beating Thanks For Coming (11-1) by 14l, 4 ran.
Attaglance 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, jumped right 3rd, led 6th, headed 7th, tracked leaders, outpaced 6 out, went remote 3rd 4 out, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 5, 19l behind Rocky Creek (11-1) at Doncaster 3m nov chs (4) gs in Dec.
What Er Say 3-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, raced right on inside away from others, ridden 8th, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Le Beau Bai (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
Wiesentraum (GER) 40-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway before 3 out, not fluent last, kept on to lead close home, won at Doncaster 2m 3f beg chs (3) gs in Dec beating Vintage Star (11-2) by nk, 12 ran.
