A hugely-competitive qualifier for March’s final. We’ll take the view that there is more to come from CALL TO ORDER, who won well at Cheltenham last month yet is still receiving weight all round here. Harry Fry runs two and both Whataknight and Wotzizname have decent claims. El Bandit ran in snatches when attempting a six-timer at Newbury in November but it would be no surprise to see him bounce back but Cheltenham third Debdebdeb will be entering unknown territory over this trip. El Terremoto will also have his stamina to prove while Clondaw Cian weakened quickly last time over 3m2f. Kelvingrove still looks a shade high in the weights but is unlikely to be far away and preferred to the free-going Rolling Maul. Knock House is two from two around here but hasn’t run over hurdles in almost three years.
Volnay De Thaix (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Blundered badly 2nd, last pair, never going or jumped with any fluency after, struggling when not fluent 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 12th, at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Aubusson (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Held up, towards rear, some headway 18th, mistake 4 out, no impression when pecked next, soon well beaten, 8th of 16, 37 1/2l behind Tour Des Champs (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Whataknight 1-5fav (11-4) Jumped left, not always fluent, tracked leaders, led before 11th, clear from 14th, easily, won at Hereford 3m 1f (4) gd in Oct beating Sage Monkey (11-4) by dist, 4 ran.
Wotzizname (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Not always fluent, tracked leaders, left in lead 2 out (normal 5 out), ridden in home straight, headed and no impression after omitted last, 2nd of 3, 10l behind Arpege D'alene (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f (3) gs in Nov.
El Bandit (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression, 7th of 10, 7 3/4l behind Solomn Grundy (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Clondaw Cian (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division on outside, closed 4th, lost place 8th, blundered badly when losing touch 4 out, 8th of 14, dist behind Tobefair (11-0) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Knock House (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 11th, ridden before 6 out, soon weakened, pulled up, at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Debdebdeb 11-2 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway after 2 out, 3rd and not fluent last, kept on without being able to challenge, 3rd of 13, 4 1/4l behind Briery Queen (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
El Terremoto (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear when in view after 1st, still there but in touch when in view after 4 out, 3rd at finish, 3rd of 9, shd behind Clyne (11-12) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Kelvingrove (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Solomn Grundy (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Rolling Maul (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Led until after 6th, lost place before 2 out, soon well beaten, 5th of 7, 14 3/4l behind Cogry (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Ballyculla (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway into mid-division 13th, struggling 19th, soon behind, pulled up before last, at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Call To Order 11-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, jumped right 4 out and went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, edged left before last, wandered flat, driven clear towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec beating For Good Measure (11-5) by 3 3/4l, 12 ran.
