Ashfield Paddy and OSCAR ASCHE are both potentially well treated back over hurdles having failed to take to fences this season. A previous course winner, the latter is 2lb lower than when second at Hereford last March and he has an in-form jockey on board. Found On should have more offer after winning a Leicester maiden but Exploiteur will need to defy a further 6lb rise to complete his hat-trick and Bailarico has gone up 9lb for winning at Catterick. Minella Warrior looks the pick of the remainder.
Exploiteur (FR) 4-5fav (11-2) Held up in rear, smooth headway to press leader 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden and led last, driven out run-in, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Gustavian (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Ballon Onabudget (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Raced keenly, held up in midfield, mistake 3rd, took closer order 7th, not fluent 9th, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 4th of 12, 9l behind Hill Sixteen (10-4) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Minella Warrior (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Midfield, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 9, 18l behind Teescomponents Lad (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Bailarico (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up last of all, travelled well throughout, niggled along to lead before 2 out, quickened away after last, easily, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Maison D'Or (10-12) by 4 3/4l, 6 ran.
Diger Daudaie (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Prominent, ridden before 11th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Some Buckle (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Chsd ldrs til wknd 11; wl bhnd when pu last, at Kimble 2m 4f gs in Nov.
Ashfield Paddy (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) In rear, lost touch when not fluent 4 out, tailed off before 3 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Rath An Iuir (11-9) at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Found On (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Made all, increased tempo 3 out, ridden clear 2 out, stayed on strongly from last, won at Leicester 2m 4f mdn (4) hvy in Dec beating Hunny Moon (11-0) by 4 1/4l, 9 ran.
Oscar Asche (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Midfield, mistake 2nd and reminder, slow 9th and further reminders, slow 11th, pulled up before 4 out, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
