Generous Day did well to beat more experienced rivals in this grade at Warwick and has only been raised 4lb but CLONDAW CASTLE should take all the beating if jumping as well as he did when beating an odds-on favourite with something to spare at Leicester. Militarian may be in the handicapper’s grip now but Peacocks Secret has won three of his last five in Ireland and Knockmaole Boy can only improve on his third at Newbury, his chasing debut and first run in more than six months.
Militarian 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway 9th, chased clear leader next until not fluent 3 out, stayed on same pace last, 4th of 10, 4 1/4l behind Treackle Tart (11-7) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Clondaw Castle (IRE) 6-4 (10-12) Jumped well, made all, drew readily clear after 3 out, unchallenged after, easily, won at Leicester 2m (3) gf in Jan beating Burbank (10-12) by 10l, 3 ran.
Knockmaole Boy (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Took keen hold in last, not fluent 2nd, left 3rd 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 4, 26 1/2l behind The Russian Doyen (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Peacocks Secret (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Led, pressed entering straight, pushed along before 2 out, headed 2 out and ridden, stayed on to press leader last, disputed and every chance run-in, no extra in 2nd close home, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Monatomic (11-7) at Down Royal 2m Yielding in Jan.
Generous Day (IRE) 9-4 (10-3) Chased leaders, led 8th, kept on well flat, won at Warwick 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan beating Movie Legend (11-1) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Vicenzo Mio (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced 9th, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 35l behind Sir Egbert (12-1) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.