blundered and unseated rider 1st
chased winner throughout, mistake and reminder 8th, ridden before 2 out, driven upsides and not fluent last, strong challenge flat, just failed
took keen hold, settled in 3rd, hit 4 out, soon outpaced, no chance with front pair
made all, ridden between last 2, joined last, held on gamely under pressure flat
Wenger was value for more than the winning margin last time out and can go in again, although Give Me Love and Ballyrainey look two obvious dangers. Peter Winkworth's seven-year-old idled when winning on just his second chase start eleven days ago at Taunton and with his assured jumping certainly a big asset, he could take all the beating today despite a 5lb rise in the weights. Trip and ground look ideal so he gets the confident nod. Bright Eagle will need to improve his jumping if he is to trouble the judge today, so of more interest may be Bally Rainey off his feather weight. Although just out of the handicap, he is pretty consistent and has place claims. Another with claims is Give Me Love who may appreciate the drop in trip today and who's competent jockey can claim a valuable three pounds. Native Commander completes the line-up and has the most experience of the field, however he looks pretty limited and so is passed over, and we return to recent winner Wenger as the confident selection.
Bright Eagle (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Raced keenly, held up, headway 7th, mistake 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 7, 21l behind Good Spirit (10-11) at Stratford 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Feb.
Wenger (FR) 11-4 (11-11) Held up, headway after 5th, led 7th, idled flat but always in command, won at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft beating Incorporation (10-12) by 2l, 6 ran.
Native Commander (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 9th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 6, 25l behind The Hardy Boy (10-2) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Ballyrainey (IRE) 11-8 (10-10) Tracked leader 3rd, led before 2 out, headed last, weakened, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Golden Oak (11-9) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Feb.
Give Me Love (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Pulled hard, held up, headway 4th, jumped slowly 6th, went 2nd 4 out, travelling well, effort by ommited last fence, not run on, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Kercabellec (10-1) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
