There's nothing of the class of the legendary Golden Miller in this handicap hurdle, but it is a decent prize for the track and can be taken by MOHAYER, while Ashfield's Dream and Stoney's Treasure are also short-listed. The last-named comes here seeking a hat-trick after successes at both Lingfield and Plumpton over similar trips to this. He handles plenty of cut and has a fair mark for this handicap debut, so with the yard going well he will be tough to beat. Ashfield's Dream was far from disgraced behind the very useful Quantitativeeasing over shorter at Newbury last time out, having previously won over 2m 4f in an Ascot novices' hurdle. He looks a smart enough prospect and can go well, though he does have plenty of racing weight to lump around today. Hope Road handles some cut, though is unproven on desperate winter ground like this. Tony McCoy will have the best idea as to his merits after winning a Worcester maiden hurdle on him last June. However, he is not easy to win with and though he can go well he will probably find one or two too good. Wester Ross has claims now stepped up in trip, though he also has to prove himself on going this deep, and preference is just for Mohayer. Unexposed over this distance, his recent efforts over two miles suggested that he was crying out for further. He relishes heavy ground, is on a very competitive mark, and with the champion jockey up we will side with him.
Ashfield's Dream (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Led, narrowly headed after 4 out, chased leader, left in narrow lead 2 out, ridden and headed before last, outpaced and no chance with winner run-in, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Quantitativeeasing (11-5) at Newbury 2m hdl (3) hvy in Dec.
Hope Road 10-11fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, hampered 6th, not much room when hampered approaching 3 out, driven 2 out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 11l behind Billie Magern (10-7) at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Wester Ross (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Pressed leader, challenged 4th, hit next, weakened 2 out, 7th of 14, 22l behind Ronaldo Des Mottes (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Stoney's Treasure 11-4 (11-12) Held up and keen, headway 4 out, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well from last, driven out, won at Plumpton 2m 5f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) sft in Jan beating Pete The Feat (11-1) by 2l, 11 ran.
Mohayer (IRE) 2-1fav (11-8) Held up, headway on outside to challenge 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and every chance, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Akarshan (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Pocket Too 25-1 (11-2) Prominent, pushed along before 3 out, weakened after next, eased and pulled up before last, in a race won by Money Order (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Najca De Thaix (FR) 33-1 (10-0) Jumped right, led after 1st, driven and headed before 2 out, beaten before last, 5th of 9, 6l behind Templer (11-7) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in May.
Good For Blue (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 2 out, weakening when not fluent last, 4th of 12, 17l behind Will Be Done (10-9) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Kadouchski (FR) 15-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, no impression in 4th after 3 out, dived at last, 4th of 7, 15l behind Global Flyer (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
