prominent, ridden, effort 2 out, weakened last
prominent, chased winner 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on one pace
mid-division, hampered when unseated rider 5th
with leader, lost place 6th, pulled up before last
in touch, ridden, chased leader 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, stayed on well flat
prominent, blundered 3rd, ridden 2 out, weakened last
always towards rear, weakened 6th, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, fell 5th
towards rear, weakened 8th, tailed off when hit last
held up mid-division, led after 7th, pushed along approaching last, clear flat, eased close home
mid-division when brought down 5th
led, mistake 6th, headed 7th, ridden, weakened 2 out
prominent, ridden 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, weakened 7th, pulled up before 2 out
always behind, hit 4th, pulled up after 6th
Paulo Dancer is preferred here to Portland Bill and Trigger The Light. The selection has been in cracking form and it is interesting that connections are giving him another run over hurdles rather than letting him have a crack at the bigger obstacles. He failed on his hat-trick bid last time but compensation could await for punters today. Portland Bill is another who is expected to go chasing in the near future but he did win well in this sphere last time when beating Nougat De L'Isle and he has obvious claims of following up this afternoon. Nougat De L'Isle is weighted to turn the tables with Portland Bill and as he has now proven that he sees out this trip he is worthy of serious consideration. Trigger The Light has been in good form but he would prefer more testing ground conditions and we will stick with Paulo Dancer as our choice to lead them home.
Paulo Dancer (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Chased leader until after 2nd, remained prominent, weakened 3 out, 5th of 8, 33l behind Massini's Maguire (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Portland Bill (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, blundered next, soon hard ridden, all out, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Nougat de L'Isle (10-12) by a shd, 17 ran.
Hill Forts Timmy 6-1 (11-7) Held up, headway after 4th, chased winner straight, one pace, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Youll Do For Me (11-6) at Hereford 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Nictos de Bersy (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Made virtually all, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Hopkins (10-12) by 4l, 16 ran.
Trigger The Light 9-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway after 5th, every chance last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Classic Fiddle (10-13) at Hereford 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Exuberance (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, ridden after 2 out, weakened after last, 4th of 11, 35l behind Classic Fiddle (10-13) at Hereford 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Il Potere (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Always in rear, 17th of 22, well behind Crocodiles Rock (11-4) at Newbury 2m nhf (4) sft in Dec.
Junctiontwentyfour 25-1 (10-12) Chased leader, hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before next, 10th of 14, well behind Oceanos des Obeaux (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Lord Kernow (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Led, ran wide and dropped rear after 6f, recovered to lead briefly over 3f out, one pace, 5th of 12, 21l behind Kicks For Free (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nhf (6) sft in Jan '06.
Marcus 100-1 (11-0) Prominent until 9th, faded, 7th of 16, 27l behind Barbers Shop (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f nh mdn hdl (3) gd in Dec.
Montana Gold (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Never reached beyond mid-division, 13th of 18, 36l behind Imperial Commander (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m nhf (4) gs in Oct.
Nodforms Victoria (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden to chase winner over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out, 4th of 16, 19l behind Harrowman (10-9) at Haydock 2m nhf (6) gd in Nov.
Nougat de L'Isle (FR) 17-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, hit 2nd and 6th, pressed winner, hard ridden and every chance flat, just failed, 2nd of 17, shd behind Portland Bill (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Right Miracle (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, well held when brought down at the last in race won by Special Envoy (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Thunder Child 100-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 17, well behind Leading Authority (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Two Mile Oak Double Trigger gelding, half-brother to winners over hurdles and fences.
