Night Safe is better than he showed last time out, however the bet looks to be PIPO DE RE over Amigayle, Stagecoach Opal and Seize. Venetia Williams is still enjoying a real purple patch and any horse she sends out needs respect. This gelding was well-fancied for his recent chasing debut and he was still in with every chance when falling at the second last. With plenty in his favour again regarding trip and ground, he must go close if his confidence has gone unaffected. Marufo is interesting as he ran well for a long way at Newbury on his recent chasing bow and he looks the type to do well in this sphere. Night Safe ran a strange race in that same contest as he was pulled up but then full of beans when returning to the stable box. Minella Four Star has run ok in two chase starts at Leicester this season, however a bigger danger could be top-weight Amigayle. Suzy Smith's mare returns to fences this afternoon after a good win at Kempton last time but her mark is starting to look prohibitive. Stagecoach Opal and Seize are two recent winners who come here in good form, however it is Pipo De Re who can make amends for his fall last time out.
Aimigayle 4-1 (10-6) Made all, hit 4 out, driven and stayed on when strongly pressed from 2 out, kept on gamely flat, won at Kempton 3m mrs hcp hdl (2) gd in Dec beating Hora (11-9) by a nk, 8 ran.
Orphelin Collonges (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Chased leader, led 9th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 10, 20l behind Rustarix (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Stagecoach Opal 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, effort 2 out, driven to lead near line, won at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec beating Ngong Hills (10-1) by a hd, 16 ran.
Night Safe (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden 12th and soon struggling, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by The Sawyer (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Minella Four Star (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up, soon in touch, mistake and reminded 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Dream Garden (11-3) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Star Beat 10-1 (10-11) Behind, some headway 4 out, never near leaders, 8th of 16, 41l behind Sa Suffit (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Jan.
Pipo De Re (FR) 2-1fav (10-12) Prominent, headway approaching 13th to chase leader, every chance when fell 4 out in race won by Le Burf (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Jan, 10 ran.
Marufo (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mistake 2nd, behind, hit 4th and next, headway 14th, ridden 4 out and weakened before next, 7th of 15, 30l behind The Sawyer (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Seize 7-2jt-fav (11-7) Mid-division, some headway and every chance 4 out, soon ridden and kept on until approaching 2 out, driven out, won at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Dec beating Stravaigin (11-2) by 4l, 13 ran.
Uncle Eli (IRE) 28-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, hit 2nd, never a factor, 8th of 13, 25l behind Shouldhavehadthat (11-9) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Von Galen (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) With leaders, weakened 10th and pulled up 4 out in race won by Captain Aubrey (11-11) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov, 6 ran.
