This may not be as competitive a contest as the numbers would suggest with only a few of the 12 runners holding claims. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Tramantano, a useful horse on the level with Henry Candy, sprung a surprise when beating two subsequent winners on his hurdling debut on soft ground at Newbury but has struggled under a penalty twice since then and may do so again. Fortunate Dave has more on his plate than when beating Almnadia (winner since) over course and distance in November. Nicky Henderson's Tanikos, a winner in the provinces in France, is difficult to evaluate on his British debut but faces no easy task conceding weight to Mirant. Martin Pipe's colt was clear when falling at the last on his debut at Warwick and lost no caste in defeat when second to the impressive East Tycoon at Doncaster on his only other start. A reproduction of that form should suffice for the son of Danzig Connection who can make the most of the weight he receives from his main rivals.
