Sully D'Oc Aa won bumpers and hurdles in France but this is quite a tough start in the UK and he hasn’t run in more than a year. Wilde Blue Yonder could be clumsy over hurdles and made mistakes on his fencing bow and Piton Pete also has something to learn about jumping the larger obstacles. MULCAHYS HILL must go close if reproducing his run behind Jerrysback at Bangor as Warren Greatrex’ charge had the rest well beaten, though Aintree My Dream took a step forward with his second at Uttoxeter last month and rates a danger.
Aintree My Dream (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Led, mistake 5th, driven after 3 out, headed close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Calipso Collonges (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Change Ur Tune (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place from 5th, well behind 8th, pulled up before 3 out, at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Mulcahys Hill (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Ridden along leaving start, tracked leader until led 3rd, ridden and headed briefly 2 out, left in lead next, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Jerrysback (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Noruki (IRE) 2-1 (12-2) Chsd ldrs until 2nd frm 6th, mstk 3out, ld aftr 3out, hdd bef 2out, wknd in 3rd aftr 2out, 4th bef last, 4th of 10, 13l behind Bee A Beneficiary (11-11) at Curraghmore 3m gd in Apr.
Petiville (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, lost place before 8th, soon behind, tailed off 4 out, pulled up next, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Piton Pete (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Jumped right, not always fluent, tracked leaders, went 2nd from the 2nd until after 4th, 2nd again 8th until after 9th, hit 13th and stumbled, ridden before 4 out, still close 4th when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, at Ludlow 2m 4f (3) sft in Dec.
Wilde Blue Yonder (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders in 5th until blundered and lost place 8th, never on terms after, plugged on, 6th of 9, 25 1/2l behind De Rasher Counter (10-7) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Sully D'Oc Aa (FR) (11-2) won at Pau 2m 1f gd in Dec beating Entree De Jeu Aa (9-13) by 14l, 8 ran.
Sprogzilla 66-1 (10-5) Chased leaders on outside, not fluent 3rd, struggling 7th, modest 4th when blundered and unseated rider 8th, at Hereford 2m (4) gs in Jan.
