VOLCAN SURPRISE will almost certainly be thereabouts again and Alan King's four-year-old is given a final chance to open his account tackling this longer trip for the first time. Milarrow has also been knocking on the door while a market move for Paul Nicholls' Taoufick Du Seuil would have to be taken seriously. Ballyboker Boy, Barlow and Danandy have all won between the flags this season with the former runner-up at Ffos Las on his hurdling debut, while the latter won a Fontwell bumper last month. Regal Park and Stagecoach Danman have both won on the Flat in 2011 but, like Little Fritz, need to improve to land this.
Baileys Concerto (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 17, 16l behind So Fine (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Ballyboker Boy (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Prominent, led 4th, clear with winner from 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, hit last and kept on, 2nd of 12, 8l behind Top Of The Range (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Barlow (IRE) 17-2 (11-6) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 7th, outpaced after 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Hawkes Point (11-6) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Danandy (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 9f out, led 3f out, clear inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) sft in Jan beating Boy Of Boru (11-6) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
John's Gem 80-1 (10-13) Prominent, ridden after 4th, lost place next, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 28l behind Loose Chips (11-4) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Keep Kicking (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Oscar Nominee (11-2) at Southwell 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Jan.
Kruzhlinin (GER) 11-4fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led over 5f out, strongly challenged over 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, no extra closing stages, 6th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Mister Newby (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 2f nhf (6) sft in Dec.
Little Fritz (FR) 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th, fell 4 out, in a race won by Magnifique Etoile (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
Milarrow (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Held up, headway approaching 7th, went 2nd after 2 out, led last, edged right and headed flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Simply Ben (10-13) at Ffos Las 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Regal Park (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Mid-division, hampered and dropped to rear 4th, keeping on again on inside when blundered 3 out, tailed off, not recover, 7th of 10, 29l behind Ile De Re (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Struanmore 100-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, 5th of 12, 34l behind Oscar Nominee (11-2) at Southwell 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Jan.
Taoufick Du Seuil (FR) (10-1) 2nd of 10, 6l behind Trop Fort (9-10) at Moulins(FR) 1m 3f 3yo nhf gd in Sep '10.
Western King (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along 5th, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 15, 45l behind Merry King (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Madame Allsorts 25-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, headway and 7th approaching 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 12, 11l behind Heather Royal (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Stagecoach Danman (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, tracked leader, dived at 2nd, lost 2nd 4th, mistake 4 out, ridden and weakened before next, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Ranjaan (10-12) at Kempton 2m 3yo hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Volcan Surprise (FR) 10-3fav (10-4) Held up in touch, lost place after 3rd, rallied 5th, led after 3 out, headed when not fluent 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Loose Chips (11-4) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
