Sue Smith would love to win this race named after her great old favourite but whether Cloudy Too is up to this is another matter though he did plough through the mud to score at Carlisle. Railway Dillon stays the trip and will like the ground so has to be considered as he's a regular in this sort of class but Maringo Bay is barely out of the novice stage. Posh Bird is 18lb higher than when last successful while Boris The Blade is up 7lb for landing a minor handicap at Newcastle. MONSIEUR CADOU and Jaunty Journey fought out a finish over the C&D last month with the former just doing enough to prevail. He was carrying 2lb overweight that day and, as that was only his fourth start over fences, he can continue his progress and take this.
Railway Dillon (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, reminder to lead narrowly after 10th, mistake and headed 12th, chased leader, led again 2 out, (normal 4 out), headed bypsssing ommited 2 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 8, 21l behind Mortimers Cross (10-10) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft.
Cloudy Too (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Led, jumped mainly right, headed 6th, lost place 5 out, ridden before 3 out, never dangerous, 4th of 5, 20l behind Rocky Creek (11-1) at Doncaster 3m nov chs (4) gs.
Maringo Bay (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Led narrowly, headed 6th, regained narrow lead after next, headed 3 out, soon ridden, 3rd and one pace last, stayed on to regain 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Mountainous (10-10) at Chepstow 3m beg chs (3) hvy.
Posh Bird (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, steady headway from 3 out, no impression, 8th of 14, 21l behind Isla Pearl Fisher (10-12) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Jaunty Journey 8-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, led 4 out, mistake 3 out, headed before 2 out, every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Monsieur Cadou (10-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Monsieur Cadou (FR) 12-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway 16th, led before last, ridden run-in, kept on gamely, won at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating Jaunty Journey (10-5) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Boris The Blade 12-1 (11-12) Made all, pressed 2 out and not fluent, kept on well from last, won at Newcastle 3m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy beating Shadow Boxer (10-5) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
