Jaunty Flight was a good winner when last seen when landing a handicap chase at Perth in April but lack of a recent run is of concern to Oliver Sherwood's gelding and a better bet looks to be PRETTY STAR, who gets the vote over Exmoor Ranger. Victor Dartnell's gelding was good value for his win at Newcastle last month but a 7lb rise for that success makes this tougher and he may have to settle for minor honours. Jonjo O'Neill's Can't Buy Time was well held on his reappearance at Ascot in October and is hard to recommend after that effort with a bigger threat likely to come from Mark The Book. The eight-year-old made an encouraging return to action for Philip Hobbs when not beaten far behind Forest Pennant at Exeter last month and he has to be respected. Nirvana Swing was punished by the handicapper for his win at Market Rasen and struggled off his new mark at Kelso recently so could probably do with being dropped in the weights. Charlie Longsdon's Palypso de Creek handled plenty of cut in the ground in France and cannot be discounted on only his third start for current connections but preference is for Pretty Star. The Venetia Williams-trained gelding made a highly encouraging reappearance when finding just Any Currency too good at Ascot last month and a reproduction of that level of form off just a 2lb higher mark may suffice on ground that suits.
Jaunty Flight 3-1 (10-13) Held up, headway to lead 4 out, left 6 lengths clear next, stayed on well, easily, won at Perth 3m nov stks (2) gd in Apr beating Lodge Lane (11-3) by 22l, 6 ran.
Exmoor Ranger (IRE) 4-1fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway into mid-division when hit 12th, stayed on after 4 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, challenged after last, kept on to lead final 100 yards, won going away, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov beating Ice Bucket (10-3) by 2 1/4l, 14 ran.
Regal Heights (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, losing place when mistake 16th, behind when pulled up 18th, in a race won by Galant Nuit (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Can't Buy Time (IRE) 15-2 (11-1) In rear, blundered badly and rider lost irons briefly 2nd, ridden and struggling 5 out, never in contention, 10th of 16, 19l behind The Last Derby (10-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Jass 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 12th, headway 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure flat, never troubled leaders, 4th of 14, 9l behind Beat The Boys (10-12) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
The Sawyer (BEL) 9-2fav (11-3) Held up in touch, mistake 9th, in 4th when blundered and unseated rider 13th, in a race won by Dev (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Pretty Star (GER) 16-1 (11-9) Made most, ridden when pressed 3 out, driven approaching last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Any Currency (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
The Vicar (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, mistake 10th, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 11, 33l behind Shining Gale (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Akilak (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Behind, some late headway but never in contention, 7th of 18, 38l behind Mount Oscar (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Palypso De Creek (FR) 17-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, jumped slow 3rd, took closer order 7th, ridden after 2 out, one pace from last, 4th of 8, 11l behind Vic Venturi (11-12) at Aintree 3m 2f list hcp ch (1) sft in Nov.
Mark The Book (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Led, pushed along approaching 4 out, kept narrow advantage until headed 2 out, still well there approaching last, tired jump, weakened flat, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 4, 6l behind Forest Pennant (10-12) at Exeter 3m nov stks (3) sft in Nov.
Nirvana Swing (FR) 10-3 (10-0) Tracked leaders, weakened 14th, last of 5, 33l behind Money Trix (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (2) sft.
I'moncloudnine (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Held up in touch, headway to chase leading pair 4 out, ridden 2 out, went 2nd before last, kept on flat, no impression, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Strawberry (11-12) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Malko de Beaumont (FR) 14-1 (11-0) In rear, hampered 7th, headway 10th, kept on 2 out, 4th of 7, 12l behind Flake (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy.
Valley Ride (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, well held when fell 13th (Valentines), in a race won by Dev (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
