Tiger O'Toole came with a late run to thwart Walkon over 2m4f at Ascot three weeks ago with Notus De La Tour a staying-on fourth and SOLDATINO sixth. The exposed winner might struggle under his penalty here but those behind can all be expected to improve for the run and the last-named looks particularly interesting and gets the vote. Victorious in last season's Triumph Hurdle, Nicky Henderson's five-year-old blew up entering the straight at Ascot but had moved really well up to that point and is unlikely to pull as hard today. Henderson also saddles classy French import Solix and the consistent Eradicate, while Walkon's trainer Alan King saddles four in total including impressive Exeter winner Salden Licht. Last year's first and second, Get Me Out Of Here and Ronaldo Des Mottes, may have too much weight this time around, but Willie Mullins' MCR Hurdle winner Final Approach could still be well handicapped and Brian Ellison's pair Bothy and Palomar are others to consider in a cracking renewal.
Solix (FR) (10-5) 4th of 12, 8l behind Bel La Vie (10-5) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 3f 4yo hdl Grd 1 hvy in Nov.
Salden Licht 2-1fav (11-12) Raced on inside, held up, smooth headway before 3 out, soon tracking leader, challenged on bit 2 out, led before last, came clear flat, easily, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan beating Sir Kezbaah (10-3) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Ronaldo Des Mottes (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division on outer, still in touch 3 out, no extra approaching straight, 7th of 11, 16l behind Hurricane Fly (11-12) at Punchestown 2m hdl G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Get Me Out Of Here (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Raced wide, held up towards rear, headway on outside before 4th, chased leaders 4 out, every chance when hit 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 17, 23l behind Menorah (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Nearby 10-1 (11-7) Chased leading pair, ridden pushed left and stumbled 2 out, outpaced soon after, last of 5, 31l behind Peddlers Cross (11-7) at Newbury 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Nov.
Walkon (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, led just after last, hard ridden and headed close home, no extra, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Tiger O'Toole (10-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Soldatino (FR) 11-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway approaching 8th, chased leaders 3 out, held when hampered 2 out, 6th of 14, 19l behind Tiger O'Toole (10-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Eradicate (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Took keen hold in touch, chased leading pair under pressure between after 2 out until approaching last, stayed on same pace, 4th of 16, 12l behind Art Professor (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Notus De La Tour (FR) 3-1fav (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, stayed on to take moderate 4th approaching last, never troubled leaders, 4th of 14, 14l behind Tiger O'Toole (10-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
The Betchworth Kid 3-1fav (10-10) Mid-division, blundered 3rd, ridden and outpaced 4 out, weakened from next, 13th of 19, well behind James De Vassy (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Final Approach 6-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, 7th halfway, good headway on inner to lead entering straight, slight mistake last, kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 sft in Jan beating Call The Police (10-8) by 2l, 26 ran.
Bothy 2-1fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway 8f out, ridden over 4f out, stayed on same pace from 3f out until weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 11l behind Recession Proof (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Palomar (USA) 9-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden and effort next, stayed on to chase winner briefly flat, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 19, 2 1/2l behind James De Vassy (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Zanir (FR) 16-1 (11-7) In touch, headway 3 out, effort next, one pace when switched right approaching last, no impression flat, 4th of 16, 9l behind Ski Sunday (11-11) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Recession Proof (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Took keen hold, made virtually all, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec beating Bivouac (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Tiger O'Toole (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, chasing leaders when left in 3rd 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead close home all out, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan beating Walkon (11-10) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Sweet My Lord (FR) 4-9fav (11-5) Soon led and disputed, jumped well, led 6 out, asserted from before the last, stayed on well, won at Limerick 2m 3f hdl sft in Dec beating Wilde Wit Pleasure (11-11) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Washington Irving (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 22l behind Quartz De Thaix (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Iolith (GER) 10-3 (11-12) In touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, led approaching 2 out, in command before last, ridden clear flat, won at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Spirit Is Needed (11-5) by 7l, 14 ran.
Drill Sergeant 14-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders on inside, effort and every chance when mistake 2 out, soon ridden, weakened before last, 8th of 19, 19l behind James De Vassy (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Rebel Dancer (FR) 16-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, headway before 2 out, stayed on to 2nd before last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Tocca Ferro (10-13) at Newbury 2m Listed hcap hdle (1) gs in Nov.
Tarkari (IRE) 18-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, slow 2nd, chased leaders approaching 3 out, under pressure when blundered last, no extra, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Oscar Whisky (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m hdl (2) gs.
Sircozy (IRE) 11-1 (10-3) Pulled hard in rear, headway 4th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 7, 24l behind Ciceron (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
