Et Maintenant can build on his debut and land the prize here, with Man Overboard, Bedouin Blue and Cracboumwiz fighting it out for minor honours. The selection finished third on his hurdling debut eighteen days ago at Huntingdon and this ex-French performer should make a bold attempt to make all under experienced jockey Mick Fitzgerald. The form of that run behind Buster Hyvonen looks rock solid and he must be hard to beat today. Bedouin Blue travelled well for a long way on his hurdling debut and his Triumph Hurdle entry certainly catches the eye. Getting weight from the main protagonists, he looks an obvious danger. Cracboumwiz contested a big Aintree bumper in 2005 before making a decent enough hurdles debut later that year. Absent since, he would be a major danger if back to full fitness, however it can be assumed that he may need the run. Man Overboard is another returning from a long absence but his trainer is building a fine reputation so he must be watched in the market. However, in what is an interesting contest, we will return to Et Maintenant as our idea of the winner.
Cracboumwiz (FR) 9-2jt-fav (10-9) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, left in lead 3rd, headed approaching 3 out, ridden and one pace from next, 3rd of 17, 15l behind Huckster (11-0) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (D) gs in Dec '05.
Et Maintenant (FR) 9-1 (11-4) In touch, led after 3rd, headed 4 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 18, 7l behind Buster Hyvonen (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Foursquare Flyer (IRE) 15-2 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 36l behind Melpomene (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan (Flat).
Just Playfull 50-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden halfway, soon struggling, 10th of 14, 23l behind Appleaday (10-11) at Ludlow 2m nhf (4) gs in Dec.
Man Overboard 7-1 (10-7) Held up, headway and carried wide 8f out, ridden and weakened over 3f out, 4th of 15, 12l behind Closed Shop (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn nhf (6) gs in Mar.
New Realm (USA) 50-1 (9-3) Mid-division, weakened quickly 2f out, tailed off, last of 15, 49l behind Mr Aitch (9-3) at Bath 1m 3yo hcp (5) frm in Sept '05 (Flat).
Sidney Charles (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon in touch, under pressure and lost position over 3f out, soon tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Solarias Quest (9-0) at Salisbury 1m 4f 3yo mdn (5) gs in May '05 (Flat).
The Terminator (IRE) 66-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, always in rear, last of 13, 18l behind Bathwick Emma (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol in Jan (Flat).
Turner 10-1 (9-5) Towards rear, headway over 4f out to chase leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon one pace, 4th of 12, 8l behind Virginia Rose (9-1) at Musselburgh 1m 6f banded stk (7) gs in Oct (Flat).
Willing Weasel (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Held up in touch, weakened over 3f out, 9th of 14, 20l behind Appleaday (10-11) at Ludlow 2m nhf (4) gs in Dec.
Kharaline (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Raced keenly in mid-division, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 12, 42l behind Whitethorne (8-3) at Carlisle 7f 3yo fll hcp (5) gs in Jun '05 (Flat).
Rich Nomad 100-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened, 9th of 19, 34l behind Freddie The Third (10-7) at Warwick 2m nhf (6) hvy in Jan.
Storm Talk (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Mistake 10th, pulled up at the 13th in race won by Firgrove (11-7) at Bonvilston 3m ptp gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Bedouin Blue (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Close up, every chance to 2 out, soon no extra, 4th of 15, 13l behind Markington (10-12) at Catterick 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd.
Jerry Lee (IRE) (9-2) last of 9, more than 10l behind Majofils (9-2) at Frauenfeld 1m 4f stk gd in Jun (Flat).
Vial De Kerdec (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Chased winner, ridden well before 2 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 4, 39l behind Pancake (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
