Decimus and Mister Newby both won last time and several of their rivals have shown promise. General Ross, Ubique and Fairey Delta all made the frame on their racecourse debuts, while there should be more to come from Let's Be Famous and Flaming Charmer. Eleven Fifty Nine found only the useful Colour Squadron too good at Chepstow in the autumn and must go on the short-list along with the twice-placed Little Chip. But this may rest between the four-year-olds LE BEC and Rydon Pynes with preference for the former, who was well backed at Warwick last month and is almost certainly capable of better.
Decimus (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 6f out, switched left over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Taunton 2m 1f mdn NH flat (5) gf in Nov beating Opening Batsman (11-2) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Mister Newby (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway over 4f out, chased leaders over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon hard ridden, stayed on well, won at Plumpton 2m 2f nhf (6) sft in Dec beating Ballylifen (11-2) by nk, 14 ran.
Eleven Fifty Nine 9-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, steady headway 5f out, stayed on final 2f, went 2nd post, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 14l behind Colour Squadron (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (5) gs in Oct.
Fred The Shred (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Green and bucking after start, rear, headway over 5f out, went modest 4th and veered left over 1f out, 4th of 16, 33l behind Cool George (10-0) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
General Ross (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, no chance with front pair over 1f out, 3rd of 7, 21l behind New Year's Eve (10-2) at Ludlow 2m NH flat (6) gs in Jan.
Little Chip (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) In touch towards rear, closed 6f out, ridden 3f out, went 3rd 1f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Brigadier Miller (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) gs in Jan.
Rainbow Haze 16-1 (10-13) Led, joined over 2f out, soon ridden, edged left under pressure inside final furlong, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Gee Hi (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn NH flat (5) gs in Jan.
Red River Run 50-1 (11-4) Mid-division, lost place after 6f, lost touch halfway, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Gee Hi (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn NH flat (5) gs in Jan.
Starsky Des Mottes (FR) (10-1) 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Star Conti (10-2) at Nantes(FR) 1m 3f n h flat 3yo gs in Nov '09.
Ubique (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Led, headed halfway, chased winner, ridden over 3f out, no impression, 2nd of 6, 30l behind Gevrey Chambertin (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m mdn nat hunt flat (6) hvy in Dec.
Fairey Delta 8-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, chased leader until 9f out, chased leaders until outpaced 4f out, stayed on again final 2f, went 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Umadachar (10-5) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs NH flat (4-7yo) (6) sft in Jan.
Billesley Road 9-1 (10-7) Led, headed over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, tailed off, 7th of 16, well behind Cool George (10-0) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Flaming Charmer (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 9, 19l behind Starving Marvin (10-7) at Warwick 2m mdn nhf (6) gs in Jan.
Le Bec (FR) 9-4fav (10-7) Held up in rear, headway on outside 7f out, ridden over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Starving Marvin (10-7) at Warwick 2m mdn nhf (6) gs in Jan.
Rydon Pynes 40-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, steady headway on inside over 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd last strides, unable to reach winner, 2nd of 17, 1 1/4l behind My Inheritance (10-9) at Newbury 1m 4f 4yo nhf (6) sft in Jan.
Let's Be Famous (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 3f out, never on terms, well held by leaders final 2f, 6th of 19, 22l behind Be All Man (11-2) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) gd in Dec.
