Wetherby runner-up Bless The Wings looks the pick of Alan King's two runners and has to go on the short-list, while it will be interesting to see how the once highly-rated Mr Bennett gets on almost two years after his last trip to the racecourse. Filbert can probably improve on a distant third at Lingfield last month but there is surely more to come from SHERWANI WOLF this winter. Twice a winner in bumpers, Nigel Twiston-Davies' six-year-old was taking on decent opposition in a couple of novice events at Chepstow and Sandown last season and will have had plenty of schooling in the interim.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, went 3rd approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, soon chasing winner, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 14, nk behind Moon Indigo (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Duke Of Ormond (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, disputing 2nd from 9th until after 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 8, 32l behind My Boy Paddy (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Empire Builder (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) In touch on inside, outpaced over 4f out, soon beaten, 8th of 17, 39l behind Nuts N Bolts (10-11) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Mar.
Filbert (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) In touch, headway soon after 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 10, 20l behind On Trend (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft in Nov.
Just Unique 20-1 (10-9) Held up behind in touch, ridden to chase leaders after 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened from next, 4th of 7, 29l behind Silver Footnote (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Mr Bennett (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, struggling in 5th when blundered 2 out, 5th of 13, 28l behind Be There In Five (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Dec '09.
Not Til Monday (IRE) 13-2 (10-9) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, outpaced approaching 2 out, rallied to lead approaching last, soon headed, stayed on towards finish, just held, 2nd of 11, nk behind Holiday Cocktail (10-12) at Hexham 2m sell hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Prince Of Valour (IRE) 11-10 (11-7) Chsd ldrs, 4th 1/2way & mstk 3out, prog bef 2out, ld aftr 2out, chall last, so & snugly at fin, won at Ballindenisk 3m ire ptp in May beating Bevnott (11-7) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ratify 66-1 (11-0) Not fluent, always behind, tailed off, 12th of 15, well behind Kid Cassidy (11-0) at Newbury 2m NH mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Red Mile (FR) 6-1 (11-1) Behind, headway after 3 out, never able to challenge, 4th of 12, 13l behind Triggerman (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Sherwani Wolf (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Chased leader, hit 4th, ridden and lost 2nd before 2 out and mistake, weakened soon after, hit last, 3rd of 11, 22l behind Oscar Whisky (11-8) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Stealing Time (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Alw pr, 4th 1/2 way, lst tch in 6th at 10th, bhd when pu 3out, in a race won by Good Old Paul (12-0) at Ballysteen 3m ire ptp gs in Apr, 14 ran.
Super Villan 4-1 (11-0) Led until not fluent 9th, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd before last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Old Wigmore (10-7) at Hereford 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Supreme Oscar (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Chased leaders for 6f, soon tailed off and pulled up, in a race won by Latin America (10-1) at Fontwell 1m 6f NH flat (6) sft in Feb '09, 8 ran.
Tim The Chair (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, behind 5f out, tailed off, 7th of 14, well behind Cresswell Crusader (10-12) at Chepstow 2m cond & am NH flat (6) hvy in Feb.
Upthemsteps (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Tr ldrs, 2nd 5out, ld 4out, ld over last, hdd run in, qcknd found extra to ld late, won at Castletown-Geoghegan 3m ire ptp gs in Apr beating Spiker The Biker (12-0) by hd, 11 ran.
The Hon Tara 6-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, hampered 3rd, headway before 3 out, chased leaders next, stayed on well, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Kaituna (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Tsarinova 8-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and effort over 3f out, stayed on to chase leading pair over 2f out until inside final furlong, one pace, 5th of 12, 9l behind Pure Anticipation (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m N H flat (6) gf in May.
