soon detached, a fence behind from 7th, tailed off
jumped well, bit keen early, tracked leader, led 2nd, travelling best before 4 out, stayed on strongly, easily
slight lead until 2nd, chased winner, blundered and lost ground 5th, ballooned next, tried to rally on inside after 9th, pushed along and held before next, ridden and beaten before 3 out
Connerys Hill will need mishaps to his two rivals to land this. The pair look reasonably well matched with Malystic having won two bumpers and a maiden hurdle before a couple of good runs in novice company. He made a very promising debut over fences at Carlisle behind a well-regarded winner with the remainder well beaten though might have to play second fiddle again behind another potentially smart chaser. SIR VALENTINE only won once over timber but was only beaten a length in a Grade 3 handicap at Newbury in February. He couldn't get close to the odds-on Fusil Raffles on his chasing debut at Cheltenham but had the remainder out with the washing and can go one better.
Connerys Hill (IRE) 250-1 (10-12) Behind, tailed off from 8th, pulled up before 2 out, at Cartmel 2m 6f (4) sft in Aug.
Malystic 5-1 (11-2) Better than mid-division, third approaching 3 out, staying on and third 2 out, went second last, staying on strongly close home, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Protektorat (11-2) at Carlisle 2m (3) gs in Oct.
Sir Valentine (GER) 11-2 (11-2) Held up, pushed along and progress before 2 out, went 2nd before last, stayed on run in, no match for winner, 2nd of 4, 9 1/2l behind Fusil Raffles (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
