Hartside disappointed last time at Doncaster but has had a month off, which should have done him the world of good. Dropped a couple of pounds, a better effort here in anticipated. Sailors Warn chased home MIXBOY (NAP) here last month and is 5lb better off. But Ron Thompson's charge is hard to predict and the top weight is fancied to confirm the form and also beat Alan Swinbank's hat-trick seeking mud-lover Divine Port, who boasts a good strike-rate but now looks a fraction high in the weights. Akula looks best of the rest.
Mixboy (FR) 9-2 (11-11) Held up mid-division, led 3 out, clear before last, kept on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Sailors Warn (11-11) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Divine Port (USA) 4-1fav (11-10) Made most to before 7th, with leader, led again before 2 out, ridden and hard pressed before last, held on well flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Prince Khurram (11-8) by 3l, 11 ran.
Sailors Warn (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Held up mid-division, went 2nd before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Mixboy (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Hartside (GER) 15-2 (11-5) Always towards rear, 7th of 11, dist behind Holly Bush Henry (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Telex Du Berlais (FR) 25-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, under pressure and well beaten in 5th when fell 4 out, at Wetherby 1m 7f (4) sft in Nov.
Akula (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, weakened 4 out, 7th of 13, 25 1/4l behind Spice Fair (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Killiecrankie 66-1 (10-12) Led, clear from 2nd to 5th, headed approaching 3 out, modest 4th next, weakened last, 5th of 10, dist behind Barney Dwan (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) hvy in Dec.
