This track may not be ideal for WEST END ROCKER but he's still preferred to Hora whilst Victorias Groom may fare best of the rest. Alan King's novice isn't the quickest and he may not be seen to best effect on this unique circuit but he has the class to compensate and can grind out victory. His two chase runs to date have seen him make the frame behind Wichita Lineman and Ballyfitz and he's a smart staying chaser in the making. Hora has progressed well this season but the handicapper appears to have got her measure over hurdles which has presumably prompted this mid-season switch to chasing. She's in receipt of plenty of weight and should go well if taking to fencing. The remainder are not in the same class as that pair although Victorias Groom showed plenty of potential as a juvenile hurdler and has run some fair races in defeat over fences. The weights suggest that he's up against it and we'd concur with that view and expect West End Rocker to call the shots.
Badger 40-1 (10-11) Prominent, reminders approaching 7th, lost place next, plugged on to take moderate 3rd before last, 3rd of 9, 27l behind Mister Potter (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Jan.
Johnny Harris (IRE) 250-1 (10-7) In touch, reminders and lost place 7th, soon behind, 13th of 16, well behind Sa Suffit (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Jan.
Off The Shelf (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Behind, under pressure halfway, tailed off before 10th, stayed on to be moderate 3rd, 3rd of 6, well behind Carruthers (11-0) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs in Jan.
Ortega (FR) 14-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, challenged 5 out, every chance next, weakened quickly 2 out, 5th of 15, well behind Just Smudge (12-1) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Victorias Groom (GER) 16-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden and weakened 8th, pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Vodka Brook (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan, 19 ran.
West End Rocker (IRE) 11-4 (10-13) Tracked leaders, reminder after 9th, close 3rd when stumbled badly 3 out, soon ridden, held from next, challenged for 2nd run in but no chance with winner, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Ballyfitz (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) sft in Nov.
Hora 4-1 (11-9) Chased winner to 3 out, hard ridden before 2 out, driven to challenge when blundered last, kept on under pressure towards finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Aimigayle (10-6) at Kempton 3m mrs hcp hdl (2) gd in Dec.
