Perhaps NO WONGA can find the improvement required to score from L'Eau Du Nil and Alrafid. David Evans' charge is rated 103 after just two starts over hurdles. That figure leaves him with plenty to find with a couple of these, but he's lightly raced and acts on soft ground so there may yet be a little more to come and not many of these can be relied upon to run to their official marks. If they could then L'Eau Du Nil is comfortably the one to beat and the form showed by Andy Haynes' runner in better races gives him a solid profile. However, he's been off since November and it's a concern that he's returned at this level so the value may lie elsewhere. Alrafid ran well on the flat last time and merits consideration on the back of that. The 11-year-old has had plenty of racing but he's solid enough for the grade and has won under these conditions, so with the yard continuing in decent form he'll attract support. Magnesium would be a serious contender if returning to the form he showed for Brendan Powell, so he's worth monitoring in the betting on only his second start for Jim Best. Cantabilly is a course and distance winner who has a better chance than most at the weights and the gelding has been running well enough of late, Roisin's Prince disappointed last time but may be worth another chance as a generally reliable type whilst Genari has a bit to find but races under ideal conditions. Rustic Gold is yet to win a race over timber and Tabaran has a bit to find with a couple of these, so in a tricky opener our tentative vote goes to No Wonga.
L'Eau Du Nil (FR) 33-1 (11-9) Always behind, 9th of 12, 25l behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-4) at Newbury 2m con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Cantabilly (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, pushed along before 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 12, 34l behind The Rainbow Hunter (11-1) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Jan.
Genari 16-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, chased winner 6th until approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 8, 22l behind Karky Schultz (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Procas de Thaix (FR) 50-1 (11-0) In rear, weakened approaching 4 out, last of 5, 28l behind Cornas (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f chs (2) sft in Dec.
No Wonga 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, driven 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced, kept on, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 15, 16l behind Chain Of Command (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Rustic Gold 10-1 (11-11) Chased leaders early, 10th halfway, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Bangonform (11-11) at Sligo 2m 1f beg chs in Oct, 15 ran.
Sheer Magnetism (IRE) 66-1 (11-3) Chased clear leader after 2nd until 6th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Whistlejacquet (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs, 12 ran.
Superfly 40-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 10, 15l behind Aather (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Magnesium (USA) 5-1 (11-12) Led to 3rd, led 4th until 7th, chased leader, pushed along before 8th, weakened after next, last of 5, 48l behind One Cornetto (10-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Alrafid (IRE) 3-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, headway to lead approaching 2 out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Earlsfield Raider (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f sell hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Roisin's Prince (IRE) 11-10fav (11-8) Chased leaders until lost place approaching 5th, rallied from 2 out, kept on as rivals weakened flat, 4th of 8, 9l behind Applaude (10-12) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gf in Nov.
Tabaran (FR) 10-3 (11-5) Tracked leaders, chased winner 7th, not fluent last, soon beaten, raced awkwardly on extended flat, 2nd of 6, 11l behind Lightening Fire (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f cond sll hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Brandy Butter 6-1 (10-5) Led, not fluent 4th, mistake and headed next, soon driven, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind My Les (9-11) at Towcester 2m nov sll hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Dayanara (USA) 40-1 (10-8) Always towards rear, no chance after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Veiled (10-8) at Leicester 2m juv fll nov hdl (3yo) (3) gf in Dec, 13 ran.
