led to 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, beaten approaching 2 out
raced in last, lost touch and tailed off after 5th, blundered 10th
pressed leader, led 4 out, clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well, pushed out
Burntoak Boy is selected here ahead of La Grande Villez. Burntoak Boy raced off a mark of 128 when landing last season's Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival and, coupled with the fact that he has already won over fences - that win coming at Stratford - he stands out in this three-runner affair. La Grande Villex is a hurdle winner from a mark of 115 and, with a significant weight pull of 13 pounds, he rates as the danger. Burntoak Boy it is, though, that gets the nod.
Burntoakboy 9-2 (10-12) Held up in 4th, headway to lead approaching 2 out, pressed last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Stratford 2m 7f nov chs (3) gf in Oct beating Kilrogan (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Pacha Noir (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) In rear, mistake 7th, tailed off next, took remote 3rd flat, 3rd of 4, well behind Irish Wolf (11-6) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
La Grande Villez (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, weakening when hampered 3 out, 6th of 18, 25l behind Sonnyanjoe (10-10) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Sept.
