The vote here goes to Just A Splash, with Touch Of Fate and Tradingup possibly rating as his biggest dangers. Just A Splash created a very favourable impression when scoring over hurdles at Plumpton last time and he looks the type to fare well over fences. Hence his nomination. Party Games has yet to build on his Wincanton win but you never know, and Alphabetic is another that has yet to build on hurdling promise. Back at this trip, Touch Of Fate should fare better than at Windsor last time, and Tradingup's third to Hiers de Brouage at Chepstow last time reads well in the context of this race, and Cloudy Blues seemed to show improvement here last time and could have more to come over this longer trip. The likes of The Outlier, Tiger Tips Lad and General Grey are potential improvers over fences but, for the selection, we return to Just A Splash.
Tiger Tips Lad (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Held up in touch, headway 5th, not fluent 8th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 17l behind Marked Man (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft.
The Outlier (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Prominent, blundered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by King Barry (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (F) gd, 16 ran.
Just A Splash (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) In touch, headway 9th, led narrowly after 3 out, in command next, clear when hit last, eased near finish, won at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Nov beating Pan The Man (10-12) by 7l, 9 ran.
Party Games (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Always behind, ridden from 9th, lost touch from 12th, 8th of 11, 36l behind Ladalko (11-11) at Newbury 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (E) gd in Nov.
General Grey (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Always in rear, struggling 10th, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Pass Me A Dime (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f beg chs (E) gd in Nov.
Alphabetic 7-1 (10-13) Held up, some headway 9th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Another Native (10-9) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft, 10 ran.
Touch of Fate 7-1 (11-7) Held up, mistake 4th, short lived effort approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 8, 19l behind Jolly Boy (10-4) at Windsor 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs.
Megapac (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden 3rd, headway 5th, outpaced 3 out, rallied again to chase leaders 2 out, one pace, 4th of 17, 7l behind Ressource (9-9) at Stratford 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in May.
Roky Star (FR) 12-1 (11-11) Mid-divsion, lost touch 7th, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Athnowen (11-6) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in May.
Tradingup (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Prominent, hit 10th, ridden 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Hiers De Brouage (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Nov.
Mystical Star (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, headway 10th, tracked leading pair approaching 3 out, kept on from 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 10l behind Jolly Boy (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (F) sft.
It's Rumoured 16-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, ridden along 8th, behind from 10th, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Kausse de Thaix (11-1) at Windsor 3m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in Nov.
Jesnic (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Hampered 8th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Temper Lad (10-10) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gs in Nov, 17 ran.
Banaluso (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) In touch when not much room and unseated rider in race won by Precious Bane (10-7) at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs (F) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Cloudy Blues (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) In touch, lost place after 10th, stayed on from 3 out but not trouble leaders, 4th of 9, 8l behind Soeur Fontenail (11-11) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs.
