Dun Drinan can land this at a decent price at the expense of Charlies Future and Red Echo. The selection carries a seven pound penalty for winning at Taunton earlier on in the week. He did it well that day and there is no reason why he cannot repeat that result even if this does look more competitive on paper. Charlies Future did win a chase last October but has really looked vunerable off his mark. He has top weight to lump round here and others are preferred. Red Echo enters calculations on his course and distance win in September. A six pound hike in the weights meant that he stuggled last time at Plumpton and he will need to raise his game once more to land this. So for the winner we return to Dun Drinan.
Charlies Future 9-1 (11-5) Led, headed 2nd, led again 5th, headed 13th, weakened 5 out, 4th of 9, 20l behind Petit Lord (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Oct.
Contact Dancer (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Close up, blundered 4 out, every chance unseated rider 3 out in race won by Ice Tea (11-4) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) gf in Oct, 6 ran.
Red Echo (FR) 2-1fav (11-9) Led, hit 3rd, driven 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 9l behind Money Line (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Zimbabwe (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Led until hit 10th, weakened 12th, 8th of 9, well behind Special Conquest (9-11) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Bengo (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up, headway after 13th, ridden and every chance 3 out, one pace, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Petit Lord (10-12) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (4) gd in Oct.
Moustique de L'Isle (FR) 10-1 (11-1) Prominent, niggled along approaching 14th, weakening when not fluent last, 6th of 13, 11l behind Baodai (10-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Dun Drinan (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, smooth headway 8th, led 13th, soon clear, very easily, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) frm beating Outside Investor (9-12) by 18l, 8 ran.
Hurlers Cross (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 14th, outpaced when slipped on bend soon after, stayed on approaching last, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 7, 10l behind The King of Angels (11-12) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf.
Presence of Mind (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) With leader, led approaching 11th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Tanterari (10-8) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Sept '06.
Like A Bee (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (10-13) Held up, headway 15th, chased winner from 4 out, ridden 3 out, one pace, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Bannister Lane (11-4) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Mar.
Ranelagh Gray (IRE) 4-1fav (10-9) In touch, led 11th, headed 15th, no extra flat, 6th of 14, 26l behind Kilbeggan Blade (11-7) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Amazing Valour (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Pressed leader, hit 5th, left in lead before 11th, blundered 12th, soon lost place, outpaced and struggling 15th, stayed on from 2 out, 4th of 8, 8l behind Dun Drinan (11-5) at Warwick 3m 2f cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf.
Finzi (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, lost place 8th, mistake 10th, soon held, 6th of 10, 47l behind Metal Detector (11-5) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Hazeljack 20-1 (9-9) Held up, led 2nd, headed 5th, ridden and weakened 13th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Petit Lord (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Oct, 9 ran.
Castlemore (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, reminders after 4th, ridden after 12th, plugged on, 4th of 8, 10l behind Big Al (9-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
