Fiendish Flame, Kack Handed and Knockara Beau look the trio to focus on here, with Knockara Beau the selection. Fiendish Flame has looked inexperienced in both his starts to date, running very green last time, but the way he stayed on in the closing stages was eye-catching. He enjoyed the more testing conditions that day, and it would be no surprise to see him in the shake-up. Knockara Beau had very good form in bumpers, and after running too freely on his hurdling bow, he was restrained last time, and stayed on well to take third. The second has advertised the form since, and he should enjoy the ground. Kack Handed looks a typical Henry Daly improver, and his third behind Grizebeck looked better after the second won subsequently. His form may not quite match his main rivals however. Knockara Beau¿s bumper form was very good and he can land his first hurdle success.
Best Lover (FR) Great Palm gelding out of Droid.
Fiendish Flame (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and hung right approaching next, stayed on, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Son of Flicka (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Gabreselassie (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, hit 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 16, well behind Massasoit (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Oct.
Galaxy Rock (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up, headway halfway, ridden over 2f out, soon held, 5th of 15, 23l behind Swansbrook (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f nhf (6) gs.
Gilsland (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Prominent, lost place over 4f out, 8th of 14, 31l behind Bai Zhu (10-9) at Towcester 2m nhf (5) sft in Nov.
Kack Handed 7-1 (10-12) Chased leader, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Grizebeck (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 11-4 (10-5) Tracked leaders, keen early, ridden and hit 2 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Merrydown (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Our Hero (IRE) (11-7) Won at Maralin 3m ire ptp gf in Oct '07 beating Flemross (11-7) by 10l, 9 ran.
Reindeer Dippin 80-1 (10-5) Held up, chased leaders, every chance approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 27l behind Calin Royal (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f nh mdn hdl (5) hvy in Nov.
Walk Tall (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 15, 16l behind Son of Flicka (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
What A Cliche 100-1 (10-12) Held up, weakened from 3 out, 10th of 11, well behind Benfleet Boy (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) sft.
Pistol At Dawn (IRE) 50-1 (10-4) In rear, some headway 4f out, 7th of 15, 27l behind Swansbrook (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f nhf (6) gs.
