Huntingdon winner She's Humble seemingly struggled her penalty here subsequently but that run came just three days after the Huntingdon success and may have come too soon for her so she cannot be discounted but more solid claims are held by LAHARNA, who gets the vote over Pistolet Dove. The lightly raced eight-year-old was disappointing in all four starts over hurdles but showed much improved form when put over fences by Philip Hobbs, scoring comfortably at Leicester in December in a handicap off a mark of 93. A 9lb rise for that Leicester win makes this more difficult for the son of Pistolet Bleu but he still makes more appeal than Tom George's Quick Fix, who has been well held in both starts this term. Rosoff ran better at Fontwell last month and would have claims if the rain fell, while Mark Gillard's Orana Conti has disappointed in both starts since winning at Leicester at the beginning of December and is hard to back with any confidence. The vote then goes the way of Lucy Wadham's Laharna, who has been placed in both starts this term, latterly when chasing home She's Humble at Huntingdon last month, and he can go one better today racing off the same mark.
Quick Fix (IRE) 17-2 (10-10) Led to 2nd, chased winner until after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 8, well behind Pickamus (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Orana Conti (FR) 50-1 (11-8) In touch, weakened 7th, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Senor Shane (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Pistolet Dove (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Held up, raced keenly, pushed along briefly and lost place 5th, headway 7th, led 3 out, ridden clear from last, won at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec beating Circus Of Dreams (11-9) by 8l, 8 ran.
She's Humble (IRE) 2-1fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, hard driven approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Rince Donn (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Laharna 5-4fav (11-10) Held up in touch, pushed along in 2nd approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind She's Humble (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Rosoff (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) In touch in chasing group from 2nd, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 8, 17l behind Brushford (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
