French import Five Dream has shown progressive form since joining Paul Nicholls and has to be respected but the ground may be too testing for the four-year-old, as it may be for the Nigel Twiston-Davies runner Pigeon Island, so preference is for Luxurix. Like Five Dream, the selection has improved with each start over hurdles for Paul Webber and, more significantly, has improved the softer the ground has got. The son of Linamix relished the testing conditions when successful at Lingfield last time and is taken to follow up here. Bumper recruit Sir Harry Ormesher was good value for his Uttoxeter success but may struggle under his penalty as he seemed to do so at Ascot last time. Osako D'airy has shown improved form this term but this looks tough for him under his penalties and preference is for the progressive Luxurix.
Golden Alchemist 40-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 6th, slightly outpaced after 3 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Deep Purple (11-7) at Ascot 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gf in Dec.
Osako D'airy (FR) 7-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, soon ridden, headed and not fluent last, weakened flat, 3rd of 16, 4 1/2l behind One Gulp (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Pigeon Island 14-1 (11-6) Mid-division driven along approaching 2 out, plugged on one pace soon after, 5th of 17, 8l behind Jack The Giant (11-0) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gf in Dec.
Sir Harry Ormesher 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, joined winner 6th, ridden after 3 out, held when hit last, 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Deep Purple (11-7) at Ascot 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gf in Dec.
Luxurix (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Prominent, ridden to lead 2 out and jumped right, ran on, won at Lingfield 2m nov hdl (4) sft beating Bremen (11-5) by 9l, 16 ran.
Best Accolade 11-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, effort 4 out, ridden and weakened next, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Heraldry (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 7f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec '06, 16 ran.
Stravara 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, every chance last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 15, 3l behind Snake Charmer (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Dec.
Five Dream (FR) 16-1 (10-6) Towards rear, headway after 3 out, led on bit 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on, won at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) sft beating European Dream (10-12) by 1l, 13 ran.
Double Runner 66-1 (10-12) Held up, weakened approaching 5th, 9th of 12, well behind Princess of Aeneas (10-8) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov sll hdl (5) gd in May.
Pagan Starprincess 3-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged when not fluent 3 out, ridden next, kept on and every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Furmigadelagiusta (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
