Only Vintage was the best of these over hurdles and gets the vote here ahead of Sharp Rigging and Phar Out Phavorite. The selection is sure to have been well schooled for this his chasing debut has conditions to suit and on hurdles ratings he has a little in hand of these rivals so he will be hard to beat. Sharp Rigging rates the main danger on his best form and he is sure to be fitter here having been a fair sixth on his first run of the season behind Lacdoudal over hurdles but he lacks the scope of the selection and for that reason he is opposed. Phar Out Phavorite is another that could go well as he hails from a yard in top form and should be noted in the market. Of the remainder Liberia is another from a yard in form but may just need the run after a 324 day absence and for the winner we return to Only Vintage.
Goldseam (GER) 100-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 3 out and not fluent, soon behind, 8th of 9, 40l behind Alrafid (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (E) frm in Oct '04.
Liberia (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 11, 17l behind Eskimo Pie (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (D) hvy in Dec.
Only Vintage (USA) 18-1 (11-0) Held up, mistake 7th, not fluent 8th, soon outpaced, 5th of 9, 44l behind Turpin Green (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Apr.
Pardishar (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, hard ridden and headway on outside before 2 out, close up 2 out, weakened and hit last, 8th of 17, 16l behind Yes Sir (11-9) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Apr.
Phar Out Phavorite (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Always prominent, led approaching 6th, ridden, ran on flat, won at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gf in Oct beating Hatch A Plan (10-6) by 1l, 11 ran.
Sharp Rigging (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, ridden and weakened 2 out, 6th of 15, 18l behind Lacdoudal (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (A) sft in Oct.
Thorpeness (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Behind, weakened and struggling 6th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Sungates (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (E) hvy in Jan '04, 12 ran.
Wizard of Edge 100-1 (10-5) Pulled hard, tracked leaders until saddle slipped and pulled up at the 4th in race won by Racing Demon (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov chs (C) gs, 8 ran.
