The 12-year-old Even More may have a penalty to carry for his win over course and distance last time but Robert Alner's gelding was good value for that success and is taken to follow up here at the main expense of Victory Gunner and Charlies Future. The last mentioned is a stablemate of the selection and has been running well himself of late as well, latterly when a decent second behind the in-form Zimbabwe at Exeter, but he would not appear to be as well treated as Even More. Passenger Omar deserved his success in a beginners¿ chase at Warwick last month and has to be respected but this looks tougher. Alan King's horses have been in good form so Ballybough Rasher cannot be discounted but he may struggle to give weight away all round, while Liverpool Echo has given little cause of optimism recently. Victory Gunner, a winner at Market Rasen last month, has slipped to a decent mark and cannot be discounted but Even More has an obvious chance on his course and distance form of three weeks ago and is hard to oppose.
Ballybough Rasher (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Behind, reminders 5th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Russian Sky (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Dec '05, 18 ran.
Liverpool Echo (FR) 20-1 (10-7) Always behind, tailed off from 8th, 7th of 10, 28l behind Kenzo III (9-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 3-1 (10-7) Held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden 4 out, stayed on to lead close home, won at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec beating Orki Des Aigles (9-9) by a shd, 9 ran.
Charlies Future 12-1 (11-9) Led to approaching 2nd, prominent, ridden after 11th, kept on well to go 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Zimbabwe (10-4) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Passenger Omar (IRE) 11-10fav (11-3) Held up, joined leader 4th, led breifly until jumped slowly 12th, ridden to lead last driven out, won at Warwick 3m 2f beg chs (4) hvy in Dec beating Iris De Balme (11-6) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Even More (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Led until 5th, led again 8th, stayed on strongly from 2 out, ridden out, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft beating Ironside (11-3) by 8l, 8 ran.
