The three to note in this tricky handicap hurdle are Longdale, Nelson du Ronceray and FORTUNATE ISLE with the vote going to the last named. Fortunate Isle is only three pounds higher since winning at Newcastle last month. He was a fair handicapper on the level for trainer Richard Fahey and had dropped to what was a fair hurdles mark when getting his head in front last time out. We feel there is still plenty to come and he is the one horse in the race to stay on the right side of. Nelson du Ronceray caught the eye when finishing a decent second to Prosecco at Ayr last time out. He has been raised three pounds for that run but he still looks nicely treated compared to his chase rating of 122 so he is one for the short list. Longdale is nine pounds worse off since winning at Sedgefield last month. He has been a little inconsistent though and is not guaranteed to reproduce the same effort. So for the winner we return to Fortunate Isle.
Basoda 10-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 8th, chasing leaders when fell at the 14th in race won by Gidam Gidam (11-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Fortunate Isle (USA) 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and idled last, just held on, won at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Kingsdale Orion (10-12) by a hd, 12 ran.
Nelson du Ronceray (FR) 11-1 (10-8) Held up, headway and hit 5th, challenged 3 out, every chance last, one pace flat, 2nd of 15, 3/4l behind Prosecco (10-9) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Overbranch 10-1 (11-0) Led to 2nd, prominent, mistakes 4th and 8th, pushed along 12th, weakened 13th, 4th of 8, 37l behind Shatabdi (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f mrs nov chs (4) gs in Dec.
Woody Valentine (USA) 4-1jt-fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led 3 out, 15 lengths clear last, eased towards finish, easily, won at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Dec beating Ras Laffan (9-10) by 14l, 14 ran.
Aviation 33-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, reminders 6th, every chance 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 3rd of 14, 15l behind Victorias Groom (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Mister Pete (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Held up and raced wide, weakened 3 out, 16th of 18, well behind Issaquah (9-7) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Presque Perdre 20-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, weakened 2 out, mistake last, last of 7, 23l behind Boris The Blade (11-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Maidstone Mixture (FR) 66-1 (10-5) Held up in last pair, last and struggling 7th, lost touch before 3 out, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Lough Derg (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) gs.
Longdale 11-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on to lead approaching last and driven out, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec beating Dark Gentleman (11-7) by 2l, 14 ran.
Nevsky Bridge 18-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, 9th of 15, 38l behind Prosecco (10-9) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Mr Midaz 25-1 (10-13) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon beaten, 10th of 14, 27l behind Longdale (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Macchiato 28-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, went 2nd approaching 8th, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 13, 47l behind Whatdoidowiththat (10-9) at Catterick 3m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Sadler's Cove (FR) 100-1 (10-9) Always behind, lost touch from 9th and pulled up 4 out in race won by Hernando's Boy (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Dec, 11 ran.
Miss Tarantella 5-1 (10-9) Led, hit 3rd, headed approaching 2 out, weakened soon after, 3rd of 6, 34l behind Letterpress (10-12) at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Amjad 100-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 6th, soon struggling, 11th of 16, well behind Albany (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f cnd clm hdl (5) gd in Nov.
