Fakenham winner Arry Dash may struggle under his penalty on ground that is softer than ideal and a chance is taken with Lunar Sovereign, who is preferred to Bureaucrat. Admittedly the selection is trained by Martin Pipe whose yard is still to really get going but he has been given a two-month break since his latest start and most of the yard's runner shave gone well after an absence so the chances are that he may be fit enough to win this. Patronage would need to improve on the form shown first time out, while Lord of Methley has a long absence to overcome and lacks any hurdling experience. Walsingham has shown signs of ability but looks booked for a place at best and a better bet looks to be Lunar Sovereign, who has shown enough to suggest that he is more than capable of taking the honours in a race of this nature.
Arry Dash 4-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 6th, chased leader after 3 out, led next, ridden out, won at Fakenham 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Dec beating Dance World (10-5) by 2l, 14 ran.
Judy's Lad 100-1 (11-1) Prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, well behind Bold Fire (10-6) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Lord of Methley 10-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, hampered over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, hung right and soon led over 1f out, just held on, won at Hamilton 1m sll (E) gs in Aug '04 beating Tatweer (9-8) by a shd, 12 ran (Flat).
Lunar Sovereign (USA) 10-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, mistake 4th, headway 6th, chased leading pair before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 16, 16l behind Anticipating (11-5) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (D) gd in Nov.
Walsingham (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Kayceecee (11-2) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Windyx (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Always behind, no impression, 12th of 14, well behind Princelet (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs.
Bureaucrat 3-1 (10-7) Prominent, led 3 out, 6 lengths clear and in command when fell at the last in race won by Fabulous Jet (11-5) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (4) gd, 16 ran.
Patronage 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, blundered 4th, smooth headway to join leaders 3 out, ridden approaching next, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 23l behind Tritonville Lodge (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gd in Nov.
