held up in rear, headway after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on flat
made all, driven out
mid-division, headway 4th, hit 5th and 6th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next, behind when virtually pulled up before 2 out
with winner to 4 out, soon weakened
in touch, headway 4th, ridden and every chance 2 out, no extra flat
bumped 2nd, always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, mistake 3rd, headway 10th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, pecked 1st, lost place 6th, rallied after 4 out, ridden after next, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, mistake 5th, soon pushed along, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, bumped 2nd, headway after 4 out, ridden 2 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on
In a tricky event, Sir Storm is selected, with Nowator and Fiori making up the shortlist. Despite being raised six pounds for his Wetherby win, Sir Storm still remains four pounds below the mark from which he won at Perth in April 2004. On that basis, his chance is there for all to see and he can go well. Five pounds above his course and distance-winning mark, Aristoxene is lightly raced enough to have better to come, even though he was beaten off today's mark last time. The handicapper might have caught up with Schuh Shine now, while fellow course winner Nowator is still well enough weighted, in our view, to be granted respect. Christopher is back to the mark from which he won at Aintree in November 2004, while General Gossip ran well for a long way at Uttoxeter last time, looking a lot more like his old self in the process, so do not rule out a good run from him. The Villager would hold a very good chance on his 2003 form and he too looked a bit more like his old self at Cheltenham last time and, finally, Fiori still looks reasonably weighted, with his Grand Sefton second two runs ago being a very good effort, and Barton Nic got back to winning ways last time and is still well-weighted based on his best hurdling form. Overall, though, we will stick with Sir Storm.
Aristoxene (FR) 11-4fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, hit 9th, outpaced after 13th, jumped left from 4 out, stayed on again run-in, 5th of 10, 12l behind Too Forward (11-9) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Nov.
Schuh Shine (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) In touch, hit 9th, went 2nd 10th until hit 14th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 31l behind Captain Corelli (9-9) at Haydock 3m hcp chs (B) sft in Dec.
Nowator (POL) 8-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, pecked 7th, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out, won at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Dec beating Mistral De La Cour (11-3) by 3l, 6 ran.
Sir Storm (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) In touch, led 2nd to 4th, tracked leader, led again 5 out, left clear 2 out, stayed on, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Dec beating Sharp Belline (10-13) by 5l, 13 ran.
Christopher 9-2jt-fav (11-4) Behind, driven along from 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Va Vavoom (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (E) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
General Gossip (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Held up, headway approaching 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 15, well behind Moustique de L'Isle (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) hvy in Dec.
You Owe Me (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Chased leader, ridden 16th, weakened next, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Le Jaguar (11-4) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec, 6 ran.
The Villager (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 8th, ridden and one pace from 3 out, 5th of 16, 18l behind Bannow Strand (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov.
Fiori 6-1jt-fav (11-7) In touch, disputed 2nd to 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 11, 16l behind Blunham Hill (10-5) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Nov.
Barton Nic 10-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, headway to track leading pair 10th, led 3 out, soon drew well clear, easily, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Mystical Star (11-5) by 15l, 7 ran.
