RUTHENOISE is put forwards ahead of Gold Reef and Pelican Point. David Pipe recently landed a novice hurdle with a French import having its first run on these shores and Ruthenoise may be able to repeat the dose and maintain her unbeaten record. She was a ready winner of her sole start in Auteuil and is a full sister to Robin Du Bois who showed useful form as a juvenile for Tony Martin. The yard also has some history in this race with Martin Pipe landing the renewals in 2002 and 2004. Gold Reef stepped up on the form of her first two starts to run out a well backed and impressive winner of a handicap on Boxing Day. Her bumper form suggests that she can rank a good deal higher and she must be feared. So must Pelican Point as she slammed Brackenmoss at Sedgefield on debut for her current yard and it's hard to gauge her ability on the limited evidence available. Mewstone needs to be forgiven a poor display at Newbury and the yard's horses don't appear to be running quite as well as they were earlier in the season. The remainder look up against it although support for Personal Flair would be well worth noting. The principals are potentially useful and it will be interesting to see if there's any market confidence behind our selection, Ruthenoise.
Brackenmoss (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Led until headed 4 out and stayed prominent, ridden approaching 2 out and soon one pace, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Pelican Point (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Gold Reef 2-1fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway 3 out, led 2 out, easily, won at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec beating Gainsborough's Art (10-2) by 17l, 18 ran.
Hearty Dove 5-2fav (10-7) Led, driven and headed 2 out, soon outpaced, kept on until no extra flat, 4th of 12, 8l behind Cruise Director (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Mewstone 14-1 (11-2) Led to 2nd, chased leader, mistake 4th, led next to 3 out, weakened and pulled up 3 out in race won by Carole's Legacy (10-10) at Newbury 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (3) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Pelican Point 12-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden and driven clear approaching last, driven out, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Brackenmoss (11-0) by 10l, 10 ran.
Allfortara (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 3 out, weakened after, 7th of 11, 24l behind Shenanigan (10-5) at Taunton 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Jolly Cooper 66-1 (10-0) Always in the rear, 14th of 16, well behind Covert Mission (10-2) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Personal Flair 12-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 34l behind Keltic Cliche (10-5) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs nhf (6) sft in Dec.
Vic's World (IRE) 100-1 (10-2) Towards rear, ridden and effort after 6th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Tataniano (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd, 10 ran.
Ruthenoise (FR) (10-1) Towards rear, headway 3 out, challenged 2 out, led flat, ran on well, won at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl in Oct beating Atipik (10-1) by 3l, 16 ran.
