Winning pointer Iconoclast showed promise on his rules debut at Uttoxeter and has to be respected, while The Sawyer should improve for his reappearance effort at Newbury last month but it is hard to get away from Temoin who gets the vote. Nicky Henderson's gelding was different class to these over hurdles and although disappointing when last seen in the World Hurdle, the son of Groom Dancer should take all of the beating if reproducing earlier form over timber and taking to the larger obstacles. Donald Will Do has shown only a modicum of ability so far, while The Speaker is little better than moderate. That cannot be said of Temoin though and he really should win this comfortably.
Donald Will Do (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Led, ridden and joined 3 out, headed last, kept on flat, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Nacadour (11-2) at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (4) gf.
Iconoclast (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, not fluent 12th, hit 4 out, held when blundered 2 out, 4th of 11, 9l behind Back On Line (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Temoin 25-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, blundered 8th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Inglis Drever (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
The Sawyer (BEL) 14-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, weakened after next, 9th of 20, 28l behind Eden Linty (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
The Speaker (FR) 50-1 (10-9) Led and mistake 1st, headed 3rd, ridden 4 out and weakened, 6th of 10, 15l behind Gansey (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Whist Drive 16-1 (11-7) Held up, hit 4th, struggling next, lost action and pulled up 5 out in race won by Fleetwood Forest (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec '06, 18 ran.
Shikoku Lass (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Chased leader, led 11th to next, mistake and weakened 14th, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Chico Time (10-9) at Folkestone 3m 1f mrs beg chs (4) gs.
