left alone by rival 1st, jumped well apart from mistake 4 out, completed in own time
with winner when bad mistake and fell 1st
Stratagem jumped well and was only beaten a neck in a three-runner race at Warwick on his chasing bow but Alan King won this last year with Lisp and EDWARDSTONE could be an even nicer prospect. Twice a winner over hurdles last season, he was strongly fancied for the Greatwood at Cheltenham last month and wasn’t disgraced – a switch to fences will suit. Thebannerkingrebel was only a couple of lengths behind the selection in a Grade 2 over timber at Haydock last season when conceding 5lb so is no forlorn hope.
Thebannerkingrebel (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders 3 out, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 15 3/4l behind Sceau Royal (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Stratagem (FR) 9-4 (10-9) Pressed leader, led 6th, headed next, led 4 out, driven flat, headed close home, 2nd of 3, nk behind Phoenix Way (11-2) at Warwick 2m (3) gs in Nov.
Edwardstone 13-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, kept on flat, unable to challenge, 5th of 14, 7 1/2l behind The Shunter (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
