Worcester winner Pearls Legend floundered under a penalty at Fontwell last time and recent C&D winner Tealissio has 7lb extra to carry as a consequence. SOFTSONG may take advantage as he found only Valdez too good at Huntingdon last time and looks set to open his account over hurdles. Point-to-point winner Musical Knight is worth noting on his debut under Rules while Flat winner Anton Dolin will have benefited for the experience of a hurdling debut at Ludlow last month. Best Director and Canon Row are others to keep an eye on in the betting on their first start over timber.
Pearls Legend 9-2 (11-5) Settled towards rear but in touch, headway 5th, every chance 3 out, weakened next, modest 3rd, 3rd of 6, 49l behind Easter Day (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Tealissio 5-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, soon led, clear when not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Benefit Cut (10-12) by 6l, 9 ran.
Aldiva 33-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway 4f out on inner, outpaced over 2f out, kept on same pace and no impression, 7th of 10, 8l behind Ballyclough (10-4) at Haydock 2m nhf (5) gd in Mar '11.
Anton Dolin (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, brief effort when hampered after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Zarzal (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Best Director (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left and went 3rd inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 14, 7l behind Vinnie My Boy (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in May.
Canon Row (IRE) (9-2) 98th of 13, 16l behind Gaily Game (9-2) at Saint-cloud(FR) 1m 2f stk sft in Mar '11 (flat).
Generous John 200-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, took keen hold, mistake 4th, behind next, tailed off, last of 15, well behind Karazhan (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Musical Knight (IRE) 2-1 (12-0) Pr, ld 4th, hdd 6th, ld 2nd app str, kow to ld run-in, won at Kilmallock 3m ire ptp gs in Apr beating Credos Island (12-0) by 1l, 10 ran.
Paxford Junior 20-1 (11-0) In rear, pushed along over 5f out, well beaten over 4f out, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Hallmark Harry (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gd in Jul '10.
Softsong (FR) 7-4 (10-12) Keen towards rear, headway 4th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Valdez (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Lisselan Pleasure (USA) 40-1 (10-7) Held up, took keen hold, jumped left, stumbled and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Scholastica (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov, 6 ran.
Turn The Tide 150-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear and keen, mistake 5th, tailed off 6th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by The Romford Pele (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
