Shalamiyr scored over a longer trip at Southwell before failing to complete in heavy going at Chepstow. But BENNY THE SWINGER gets a tentative vote in this as his only win to date came over these fences and he ran well at Wincanton last time. Missionaire looked beaten when falling on his latest start but had run well at Uttoxeter before that while Barenger has the past form to figure and should have come on for a recent reappearance at Lingfield, though is yet another with an entry elsewhere. The remainder arrive out of form and are hard to fancy as a consequence.
Barenger (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Held up, headway 9th, not fluent 11th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Richmond (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Shalamiyr (FR) 11-4fav (12-0) Chased winner until 5th, chased leading pair, slow jump and reminders 6th, weakened before 5 out, pecked 5 out, weakened before next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Riddleofthesands (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov, 6 ran.
Benny The Swinger (IRE) 5-2fav (10-3) Held up, sometimes jumped right, mistake 1st, headway 8th, chased winner before 3 out, no impression, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Miss Tenacious (11-10) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Missionaire (USA) 6-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway to dispute 3rd 7th, definite 3rd before next, went 2nd 5 out, ridden and keeping on in 3 lengths 2nd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Riddleofthesands (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov, 6 ran.
Zhukov (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 3rd after 7th, hit 5 out, soon driven and weakened, 6th of 7, 37l behind Midnight Charmer (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Teenage Dream (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, slow 6th, weakened 7th, last of 5, 37l behind Mr Mole (11-0) at Warwick 2m beg chs (4) gs.
Moonlight Maggie 10-1 (10-0) Held up, mistake 2nd, hampered 3rd, mistake 4th and when progess 6th, every chance 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 9, 40l behind Classic Case (11-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
