Honest John stayed on gamely to deny Chac Du Cadran at Doncaster last week and is now on a hat-trick. However, he's going to find this tougher under a 7lb penalty and we prefer AFRICAN BROADWAY. His jumping let him down against seasoned handicappers at Carlisle last month but this is less competitive and David Pipe's six-year-old still has bags of scope over fences. Brass Tax dead-heated over a shorter trip here last time and shouldn't be far away and Moonlight Drive could go well on only his second run over fences. Musselburgh runner-up Balding Banker also has claims if staying the extra but Kilmacowen needs to find more.
Brass Tax (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out and joined post, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov deadheating with Alpine Breeze (11-12), 7 ran.
African Broadway (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Held up mid-division, pushed along 13th, soon weakened and pulled up, in a race won by Harouet (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov, 9 ran.
Moonlight Drive (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Mid-division, hard driven and headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened before last, 5th of 13, 23l behind Golden Call (11-5) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Mar.
Kilmacowen (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 7l behind Representingceltic (10-4) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std.
Honest John 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led briefly before 10th, led again before 3 out, driven out, won at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov beating Chac Du Cadran (11-9) by nk, 7 ran.
Balding Banker (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up, steady headway after 8th, chased leaders approaching 4 out, weakening when mistake next, left modest 3rd 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Locked Inthepocket (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
