led, headed 8th, mistake 9th and 11th, weakened 4 out
held up, chased leader 6th, led 8th, pecked and headed 2 out, soon beaten
chased leader, jumped slow 4th, ridden, weakened 12th
held up, chased leader 10th, led 2 out, ridden, ran on
chased leader, blundered, unseated rider 5th
Perle de Puce stands out here, with Clouding Over rated as her main danger. A Grade 2 novice hurdle winner in December 2003, Perle de Puce stands out here on raw ability and, if she is anywhere neat fit after a lay-off since Aintree in April 2004, she would be hard to beat. An 87-rated hurdles winner, Clouding Over caught the eye of the stewards and earned her rider a seven-day ban last time. However, the promise she showed there makes her a leading player today. Caballe is the sole course winner in the line-up and the stable's horses are going well but this 77-rated hurdles winner has not been setting the world alight of late, while Sunny South East was rather a fortunate winner at Folkestone last time and now looks vulnerable, and Bonnet's Pieces hurdling form is run-of-the-mill. All of which returns us to Perle de Puce, who gets the vote.
Sunny South East (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) In touch, headway 14th, chased leader before 2 out, 10 lengths 2nd when left in lead last, won at Folkestone 3m 1f mrs beg chs (E) gd in Nov beating Glenogue (11-0) by 3l, 10 ran.
Bonnet's Pieces 100-1 (10-8) Close up, mistake 2nd, chased leader 4th, hit 7th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Billyvoddan (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (C) gd in Nov.
Caballe (USA) 16-1 (11-6) Towards rear, blundered badly 4th and pulled up at the 5th in race won by Jolly Boy (10-1) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd in Nov, 15 ran.
Clouding Over 14-1 (11-12) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never on terms, 4th of 9, 13l behind Lanaken (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Nov.
Perle de Puce (FR) 33-1 (11-1) Led to 2nd, remained close-up, weakening when mistake 3 out, 11th of 13, 35l behind Garde Champetre (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gd in Apr '04.