A cracking renewal of this popular contest may go the way of NEW PERK. Don't Be Bleu is likely to be popular whilst Topless, Fine By Me and Pass Me By are others that could feature. Pass Me By is a previous winner of this race and warmed up for a repeat bid with a taking performance over Cheltenham's cross country course. His weight could tell over this distance though and recent performances indicate that he's handicapped to the hilt. Peter Bowen has lifted this prize in the past and Don't Be Bleu is hard for the handicapper to get a handle on as she won her only start over fences in a modest contest. Her previous efforts indicate that she'll stay this far and she's open to any amount of improvement over fences. This is a big ask for an inexperienced horse though so we'll overlook her claims. Fine By Me is quite interesting off a lightweight as he has track form to his name. He was still going well enough when coming down last time and impeding Topless who is also capable of having a say here. That applies to many in this line-up but the one that we're going to side with is New Perk. He made a winning start for his new yard and his trainer knows him well having ridden him on a number of occasions in the past. He followed that up with a fine run at Bangor behind the useful Bannister Lane for which he's been raised 2lbs but he's not on a bad mark here with his jockey claiming seven. The former Fakenham favourite looks to have learnt a new trick or two and New Perk can achieve the biggest success of his career.
Pass Me A Dime 11-4fav (11-3) Held up behind, headway after 13th, chased leaders 14th, ridden approaching 4 out, stayed on from after 3 out, led briefly flat, no extra close home, 2nd of 6, hd behind Stolen Moments (11-10) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Pass Me By 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, hit 4th, led 9th until 11th, ridden after 21st, stayed on same pace approaching last, 5th of 16, 6l behind Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
The Ring (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed after last, kept on until no extra towards finish, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Orki Des Aigles (10-6) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
The Gangerman (IRE) 5-2fav (10-10) Mid-division, headway after 5 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 12, 23l behind See You There (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Georges Boy (IRE) 25-1 (9-13) Soon chased leader, led 5th until 8th, chased leader, 3rd when hit 4 out and weakened soon after, 7th of 18, 25l behind Fleet Street (11-10) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec.
Topless (IRE) 17-2 (11-11) Held up, ridden after 11th, headway approaching 5 out, challenged for 3rd from 3 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Notabotheronme (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.
New Perk (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) In touch, ridden approaching 2 out, chased winner last, rider lost whip flat, not able to challenge winner, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Bannister Lane (11-12) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
The Risky Viking (IRE) 4-1fav (11-1) In touch, not fluent and lost place 8th, mistake 12th, soon struggling in rear, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Deep Quest (10-11) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
River Indus 13-2 (10-5) Led to 5th, remained prominent, left in lead 14th, headed 17th, weakened 3 out, lost moderate 3rd towards finish, 4th of 8, 27l behind Go For One (11-2) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Don't Be Bleu (IRE) 85-40 (11-1) Raced in 3rd, challenged going well 2 out, soon led, quickened clear, won at Folkestone 3m 1f mrs beg chs (4) sft in Dec beating Just Poppytee (11-1) by 9l, 4 ran.
Ironside (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Close up, led 5th to 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out pulled up 4 out in race won by Nicto De Beauchene (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Finzi (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, pushed along 15th, never dangerous, 8th of 13, well behind Bannister Lane (11-12) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Beauchamp Prince (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Held up, blundered 6th, headway 13th, chased leaders next, mistake and lost place 15th, rallied under pressure before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 10, 12l behind Jim Bobs Girl (10-5) at Newbury 3m 2f amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Fine By Me (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 13th and fell at the 14th in race won by New Perk (10-0) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Zimbabwe (FR) 8-1 (9-10) Reluctant, soon driven along towards rear, driven and struggling 13th, plugged on under strong pressure until 3 out, 4th of 10, 20l behind The Ring (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
