Plenty in with chances in the finale including Brooklyn Brownie, Daldini and Ungaro with the vote going to the last named. The selection has top weight to carry but this is his time of the year. He scored a hat-trick of wins this time last year and has not been discredited in his performances of late being beaten by the likes of L'Antartique. He is not well treated but this looks win able for him. Brooklyn Brownie is now nine pounds higher for his latest win at Market Rasen and will find life tougher from now on. While Daldini looks a better option as his form has been solid of late and he has no weight to carry so is on the short list. But for the winner we return to Ungaro to bounce back into the winners enclosure.
Ungaro (FR) 5-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, effort 16th, every chance when hit 18th, weakened after 2 out, 3rd of 5, 21l behind Turko (11-11) at Sandown 3m Grad Ch (2) gs.
Limerick Boy (GER) 18-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, led 8th, blundered and headed 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 13, 17l behind Opera Mundi (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Standin Obligation (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) Held up, headway and in touch 3 out, effort next, one pace, 4th of 15, 10l behind Harmony Brig (10-12) at Newcastle 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs.
Coat of Honour (USA) 33-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, blundered when struggling 2 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Millenium Royal (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Brooklyn Breeze (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, every chance after 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 4l behind Vedelle (11-1) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Brooklyn Brownie (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating The Dark Lord (11-9) by 6l, 9 ran.
Daldini 4-1 (10-9) Held up, not fluent 10th, shaken up 12th, progress after 3 out, led 2 out, edged left before last, hung right and headed flat, one pace, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Big Rob (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Nov.
Edmo Yewkay (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) Tracked leader until outpaced approaching 5 out, kept on flat but no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Lampion Du Bost (10-10) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy.
Silver Sedge (IRE) 28-1 (10-2) Blundered 1st, always behind, 9th of 15, well behind Harmony Brig (10-12) at Newcastle 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs.
Salhood 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge when blundered badly 4 out, stayed on under pressure to lead before last, ridden right out, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf beating Waterspray (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
