Green Flag - (Aintree, 13:30) 11/1 X Couple of fine efforts in big handicaps after wins first 3 starts over fences last season. Should be all the better for Carlisle return behind Hennessy winner Many Clouds and interesting runner here.
Rear-division, reminders 11th, behind from 17th, tailed off (op 12/1)
Holywell - (Aintree, 14:40) 2/1 X Developed into a very smart novice chaser last term, beat Ma Filleule at Cheltenham before completing 4-timer in Grade 1 Mildmay Chase over C&D. Should strip fitter for return and obvious claims.
Chased winner, not fluent 4th, still 2nd when blundered and unseated rider 8th (op 2/1)
King Of The Wolds - (Aintree, 15:15) 12/1 X Dual winner first 2 starts over fences as a novice (fortunate second time). Slipped in the weights and ran right up to his best with his reappearance under his belt at Ayr (25f) last time.
Carole's Destrier - (Chepstow, 15:10) 2/1 X Jumped superbly to see off a couple of next-time-out winners when opening chasing account at Exeter (3m) in November. More to come and a must for any shortlist here.
Smart bumper performer. 1/6, easily won 14-runner novice hurdle at this course (16f, heavy) on hurdles bow 21 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Stable in good form. Another bold show likely.
Un Atout - (Punchestown, 14:30) 4/6 X Smart novice hurdler in 2012-13, fourth in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham and winner of a Grade 1 at Punchestown. 590-day absence to overcome, but of strong interest on chase debut nevertheless.
Eduard - (Huntingdon, 14:05) 9/4 2nd mproved in leaps and bound over fences last term, winning a Grade 2 at Ayr in April, and produced a reappearance full of encouragement when chasing home Many Clouds at Carlisle early last month.
In touch, chased winner 10th, upsides winner after 3 out, jumped left next, led, went left and mistake last, headed and unable to quicken and dropped to 3rd flat, kept on to go 2nd again last strides (op 15/8 tchd 2/1)
Rajdhani Express - (Huntingdon, 14:05) 4/1 X Scaled new heights when third in the Ryanair at Cheltenham in March and shaped as if in need of the run when fourth in the Amlin at Ascot last month. One for the shortlist.
Took keen hold, held up in touch, chased leaders and ridden after 3 out, weakened next, well behind and virtually pulled up flat, tailed off (op 4/1)
Go Conquer - (Kelso, 12:20) 5/2 Winner Every chance when let down by jumping late in Irish points but confirmed why he cost £140,000 when winning Carlisle bumper impressively in April. Obvious player on hurdles bow. Made all, pushed along and kept on strongly to go clear from 2 out, readily (op 11/4 tchd 3/1)
Oscar Rock - (Kelso, 12:50) 5/2 2nd Classy hurdler who was third in last season's Challow at Newbury. Should have come on for Haydock return last month and no surprise if he has a future over fences back over 3m. Cheekpieces tried.
Led to 5th, chased winner, effort and ridden 3 out, no impression before next (op 2/1)
Virtuel D'oudon - (Kelso, 13:50) 9/2 X Dual winning hurdler who shaped well on chase bow at Exeter last month in race likely to throw up winners. Blinkers on now and interesting to see him pitched into race like this early by top yard. Mistakes, chased leaders, lost place when hit 18th, soon beaten, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out (op 10/3 tchd 4/1)
Sun Cloud - (Kelso, 13:50) 5/1 3rd Dual winning hurdler who shaped well on chase bow at Exeter last month in race likely to throw up winners. Blinkers on now and interesting to see him pitched into race like this early by top yard.
Took keen hold, held up on inside, headway to chase leaders final circuit, ridden when left second briefly 3 out, weakened from next (tchd 7/2)
Final Assault - (Musselburgh, 13:15) 10/3 2nd Hurdles winner who has been placed both outings over fences, going with less promise when third at Carlisle (2m) in October, but return to further likely to see him in a better light.
Jumped left in rear, headway after 5 out, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure from last, held near finish (op 2/1)
Miles To Memphis - (Cheltenham, 15:45) 6/1 X Maintained unbeaten record when making impressive start over hurdles at Fontwell on return, putting a seal on things readily after the last. Beaten at very short odds at Leicester next time, however.In touch, hit 1st and 5th, disputed 3rd 3 out, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened (op 11/2)
Madam Lilibet - (Doncaster, 14:20) 4/1 X Thriving at present, winning on the level at Pontefract in October and scoring at Hexham/Carlisle last month. Shortlisted under a 7 lb penalty.
Reluctant start, in rear, driven 5th, kept on approaching 3 out, modest 5th 2 out, no threat (op 6/1 tchd 4/1)
Smart handicap hurdler at his peak (2012 Martin Pipe winner) who chased home Present View at this year's Festival. Shaped as if as good as ever when fifth at Market Rasen in September. Respected.
Mid-division until 8th, soon struggling, weakened 11th, tailed off (op 8/1)
Blaklion - (Cheltenham, 14:35) 9/4 Winner Unbeaten in bumpers and scored at Perth/Chepstow (Grade 2) on his first 2 starts over hurdles. Came unstuck here last month, though remains open to further improvement. Tracked leaders, joined leaders after 3 out, led next, soon clear, kept up to work run-in, comfortably (op 2/1)
Winning pointer in Ireland and developed into a pretty smart novice hurdler last season. Created really good impression when making winning chase debut here last month and can follow up.
Hargam - (Cheltenham, 12:15) 11/8 Winner Useful on Flat in France for Alain de Royer Dupre and shaped very well when second to Golden Doyen in Grade 2 here on last month's hurdling debut. Smart prospect. Held up behind leaders, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd soon after 2 out, challenged last, soon led, switched to stands' side rails, kept on, driven out (op 10/11)
Hi George - (Doncaster, 11:55) X Beat Holywell on his chase bow at Catterick (19f) a year ago. Let down by jumping on return at Sedgefield, but may have needed the run and a contender if fencing passes muster here.
Chased leaders, driven approaching 4 out, lost place 3 out, eased and behind when pulled up before next (tchd 10/3)
Comments
Couple of fine efforts in big handicaps after wins first 3 starts over fences last season. Should be all the better for Carlisle return behind Hennessy winner Many Clouds and interesting runner here.
Developed into a very smart novice chaser last term, beat Ma Filleule at Cheltenham before completing 4-timer in Grade 1 Mildmay Chase over C&D. Should strip fitter for return and obvious claims.
Dual winner first 2 starts over fences as a novice (fortunate second time). Slipped in the weights and ran right up to his best with his reappearance under his belt at Ayr (25f) last time.
Jumped superbly to see off a couple of next-time-out winners when opening chasing account at Exeter (3m) in November. More to come and a must for any shortlist here.
Smart bumper performer. 1/6, easily won 14-runner novice hurdle at this course (16f, heavy) on hurdles bow 21 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Stable in good form. Another bold show likely.
Smart novice hurdler in 2012-13, fourth in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham and winner of a Grade 1 at Punchestown. 590-day absence to overcome, but of strong interest on chase debut nevertheless.
mproved in leaps and bound over fences last term, winning a Grade 2 at Ayr in April, and produced a reappearance full of encouragement when chasing home Many Clouds at Carlisle early last month.
Scaled new heights when third in the Ryanair at Cheltenham in March and shaped as if in need of the run when fourth in the Amlin at Ascot last month. One for the shortlist.
Every chance when let down by jumping late in Irish points but confirmed why he cost £140,000 when winning Carlisle bumper impressively in April. Obvious player on hurdles bow.
Made all, pushed along and kept on strongly to go clear from 2 out, readily (op 11/4 tchd 3/1)
Classy hurdler who was third in last season's Challow at Newbury. Should have come on for Haydock return last month and no surprise if he has a future over fences back over 3m. Cheekpieces tried.
Dual winning hurdler who shaped well on chase bow at Exeter last month in race likely to throw up winners. Blinkers on now and interesting to see him pitched into race like this early by top yard.
Mistakes, chased leaders, lost place when hit 18th, soon beaten, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out (op 10/3 tchd 4/1)
Dual winning hurdler who shaped well on chase bow at Exeter last month in race likely to throw up winners. Blinkers on now and interesting to see him pitched into race like this early by top yard.
Hurdles winner who has been placed both outings over fences, going with less promise when third at Carlisle (2m) in October, but return to further likely to see him in a better light.
Maintained unbeaten record when making impressive start over hurdles at Fontwell on return, putting a seal on things readily after the last. Beaten at very short odds at Leicester next time, however.
Thriving at present, winning on the level at Pontefract in October and scoring at Hexham/Carlisle last month. Shortlisted under a 7 lb penalty.
Unbeaten in bumpers and scored at Perth/Chepstow (Grade 2) on his first 2 starts over hurdles. Came unstuck here last month, though remains open to further improvement.
Tracked leaders, joined leaders after 3 out, led next, soon clear, kept up to work run-in, comfortably (op 2/1)
Winning pointer in Ireland and developed into a pretty smart novice hurdler last season. Created really good impression when making winning chase debut here last month and can follow up.
Useful on Flat in France for Alain de Royer Dupre and shaped very well when second to Golden Doyen in Grade 2 here on last month's hurdling debut. Smart prospect.
Held up behind leaders, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd soon after 2 out, challenged last, soon led, switched to stands' side rails, kept on, driven out (op 10/11)
Beat Holywell on his chase bow at Catterick (19f) a year ago. Let down by jumping on return at Sedgefield, but may have needed the run and a contender if fencing passes muster here.