This looks an uncompetitive contest and should, granted a clear round of jumping, go to Smart Cavalier with Idole First and Terivic likely to fight out the forecast spot. The selection, like many horses from the stable of Paul Nicholls, showed improved form for his first start of the season when landing a maiden chase in the soft at Folkestone last time and a reproduction of his effort there should suffice even under a penalty. Kim Bailey's Towcester winner Terivic struggled under his penalty at Bangor last time and is likely to do so again today and of more interest may be the Venetia Williams-trained Idole First who is probably better than when disappointing on his chasing debut behind Green Tango in a better race than this at Hereford earlier this month. Lago d'Oro looks the best of the remainder, who are a pretty poor bunch, but Smart Cavalier has an obvious chance and he gets the vote.
Smart Cavalier 10-11fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 6th, clear and in command when jumped left last 2, eased near finish, won at Folkestone 2m mdn chs (4) sft beating Flying Patriarch (10-7) by 3l, 6 ran.
Terivic 11-2 (11-5) Led to 10th, weakened after 3 out, last of 6, 42l behind Nadover (10-7) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (D) hvy in Dec.
Call Me Jack (IRE) 4-1 (9-13) With leader, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 3 out, weakening when blundered 2 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Magico (11-1) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Dec, 6 ran.
Idole First (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, struggling from 10th, 6th of 14, well behind Green Tango (11-3) at Hereford 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft.
Konker 100-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridder lost irons 2nd, lost place 5th, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up 2 out in race won by Calatagan (10-11) at Leicester 2m beg chs (4) gd, 10 ran.
La Source A Gold (IRE) Pulled up in race won by Two Tonys Sham at Ballindenisk 3m ptp gd in May '04, 17 ran.
Lago d'Oro 16-1 (10-9) Held up, well behind 5th, headway 9th, kept on from 4 out, 4th of 7, 31l behind De Blanc (10-12) at Towcester 2m 3f mrs beg chs (4) sft.
